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bss Itolfe bcr flminigten jMaittat, 

om 17. September 1796. 

WASHINGTON'S FAREWELL ADDRESS 

TO 

% UMplt of % Ifaitefc States jof Jlmtrita, 

September 17, 1796. 



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NEW-YORK : D. FANSHAW, 108 NASSAU-STREET. 
BOSTON : F. W. BOGEN, 14 WEST CASTLE-STREET. 



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am 17. September 1796. 
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1852. 



FAKEWELL ADDRESS 

OF 

GEORGE WASHINGTON 

TO 

$\t l^jU el t\t Inifefc Sto jof America; 

SEPTEMBER 17, 1796. 
WITH 

A GERMAN TRANSLATION, 

BY 



/. W. $ngra, 



fASTOR OF THE GERMAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CONGREGATION 
IN BOSTON. 




•f VITAS 



NEW-YORK: 
DANIEL FANSHAW, 108 NASSAU-STREET. 

BOSTON: 
F. W. BOGEN, 14 WEST CASTLE-STREET. 



1852. 



Eziz 



95 



r to r t . 



9?cr cinder 3dt t>croffcntttd)tc bcr tlcftcrfcfecr (in it 
t>eutfd>cr unb engtifeber (Spracfyc gcfdjricftcncS unb „£)cr 
sDcutfcfte in 2(mcrtfa" ftctttcltc* 95ud)Uin $um Soften fetner 
Sanfcslcute, bcr teutfdjen (Sintvanbcrct in ben ^creinigtcn 
©t-aatcn rcn tfmmfa. 3n ban llmtiffc be* ScftenSIEBaSbs 
i n 9 1 o n % , n>e(cf)cn c* untct anberen ©ccjcnftanbcn cntftalt, 
nnirbc bic 2(ufmcrffam!cit bc$ geferf auf ben fjeftcn 9.Bcrt^ 
bcr ?(ftfd)icb$s?(bbrcffc, ba$ ftenwnbcrnstocrtfyc 9Scrmd'd)tnifl 
bc$ grofitcn unb ftcften alter ^atrictcn, fyingclcnft. 

3n bcr (Srtvacjung, baf* 9Jiand)C fc:m bort gcgcftcn-cn 
$atf)c gcrnc nad)fcmmcn unb bic tveifen (Srmafjnungcn cU 
ncS 3Rannc£, bcr auf tfttc SScrcfyrung, fctcftc unb £)an£ftar* 
fcit ctn fc pjrejkS $Kcd)t ftcfi|t, oerncfymen ntodjtcn, l>ci$ fie 
after, au$ Mangel an ciner (Sjelegcnfyctt, bicfe* OTctftcrflucf 
p-eltttfcf)cr SBctSbctt unb (Srfaftrung $u crfjattcn, iftrcn pa? 
trictifd)en SSunfd) nid)t ftcfrtebigen fonncn : — fjitU er c$ 
fur angemeffen, btcfco £>tnbcrmfi 311 ftcfeittgen unb tftnen 
genanntcS Document, un&crfurjt, in tfyrcr OTuttcrfprad>c 
t>cr$u(cgcn. 

<5r f&gtc ba$ Drtginat ftei, tfjcilS au$ (Sfjrcrftictuna, 
gegen ben fyedyftcrufymtcn itrfyefter beffelftcn, tf)dU urn bic 
2efcr in ten (Stanb 311 fefecn, burd) 2Scrg{cid)ung bcr Ucftcr* 
fegung nut ban £)riginale, fur fid) fclftjl $u urthcttcn, unb 
$uglctd) aud) aU cin SRittcl $ur SBeforbcrung ibrer Jtcnnt< 
mjj bc$ (Snglifdjcn, roctcftc ben &cutfd)cn itt TCmcrtfa fo un* 
um.qanglid) notfjrocnbicj iff. 



r t S a 1 1. 



Some time ago the translator published a little book 
in behalf of his countrymen, the German Immigrants in 
the United States of America, written both in German 
and English, and entitled u The German in America." In 
the sketch of the life of Washington, which among other 
matters it contains, the attention of the reader was di- 
rected to the high value of the Farewell Address, the ad- 
mirable legacy of the greatest and best of all patriots. 

Considering that many might feel disposed to follow 
the advice there given, and might desire to hear the wise 
admonitions of a man so highly entitled to their venera- 
tion, love and gratitude; but that for want of an oppor- 
tunity of obtaining this masterpiece of political wisdom 
and experience, they cannot satisfy their patriotic wishes: 
he has thought it best to remove the obstacle, and to 
place this document, unabridged, before them, in their 
mother-tongue. 

He has added the original, partly from reverence to the 
illustrious author, partly to enable the readers to judge 
for themselves by comparing the translation with the 
original, and also as a means of advancing their know- 
ledge of the English, so indispensable to the Germans in 
America. 

I* 



6 SSorroott. 

Sfliogc tcr ©eift tc* Cannes, t\>cld)ct fcin SSatcrlanb fo 
aufricfytta, licbtc, nxld)cr il)in fo trcu ticnte, n>cld>cr tic 
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pfltd)tcn fo O/cnnffcnljaft itbte, tve(d)cr nid)t allcin ticfe 
Union turd) fcinc jpcltcntfyatcn int &ritgc bcgriintctc, 
fontcrn fie and) turd) fcinc 6>taat€u>cUfycit tm Jrictcn 
befeftigte unt tf)t turd) fcinc d)riftltd)C Sugcnten Z)auct 
unt Scftant rcrlicl): — mogc ticfer ©ctft in alien tcutfd)cn 
£cr$en cincn SSictcrflang fintcn unt af)ntkf)C ©cfiif)le fcc-t 
Religion unt £5atcr(ants(icbc, tc$ ©cfyorjamS gegen tag 
©cfe£ ©ott-cS unt tiefes 2antc5, cine* rcafyrbaft r-cpuMif-a* 
nifd)cn S-trebcnS nad) a/tfrtger &crctlung unt cincr briitcr- 
(id)cn Sicbc untcr cinantcr unt gegen a lie tr;rc gtttmtits 
fefyen, ernx-cfen. 

(So tvirt tcr GkiiT ivafyrer Jrcihett nicfyt attcin un* fclbfr 
«(5 cin rcid>ci> (£*rbc $u 31r)cit ivcrten, fontcrn cr rcirt aud), 
gleid) cincm uncnnet>ltd)cn ScudHttyurmc, fcinc fjtmmlifd)c 
6tra()(cn after ten Dccan ()iniiber $u ten entfernten )8'6U 
fern tcr atten 23ctt fenten ; er roirt fie (ctrcn, ^urcd)troctfcn 
unt ermutf)igcn in ifyrcm jtampfc fiir Srethctr, unt cut? 
ltd) — roir f) off en $u ©ott— -fie r*n tcr -93?enfcftf)cit fdjltmms 
(ten Jcintcn, namlid) son Umuiffcnhcit, £afrcr unt ilntcr* 
touching, crlofcn. 

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©corg SSasfytngten tvafyrbaft gecfyrt unt i()m cin 
unt>crganglid)C$ ^Dentinal in ten tan!barcn £cr*cn con 
9KU(i*ncn son fcin cm ©ciftc turd)trungcnct ftcict 
TCmcrifonet crricfytct rocrten. 



PREFACE. 7 

i 

May the spirit of one who loved his country so sin. 
cerely, who served it so faithfully, who defended so fear- 
lessly the rights, and practised so conscientiously the du- 
ties of man ; who not only founded this Union by his gal- 
lant deeds in war, but strengthened it by his wise policy 
in peace, and established it by his Christian virtues ; — 
may this spirit find an echo in all German hearts, and 
kindle in them congenial feelings of religion and patriot- 
ism, of obedience to the law of God and of this country, 
of a true republican love of spiritual improvement, and 
of brotherly affection amongst themselves and towards 
all their fellow- men. 

Thus the spirit of true Freedom will not only become 
our own rich inheritance, but it will also, like an immense 
beacon-light, throw its heavenly rays across the ocean to 
the distant nations of the Old World, guide and direct 
and encourage them in their struggle for freedom, and 
finally, we trust to God, deliver them from the worst 
enemies of humanity — ignorance, vice, and oppression. 

And thus the memory of the immortal George 
Washington will be truly honored, and an imperishable 
monument will be built to him in the grateful hearts of 
millions of American Freemen, deeply imbued with his 
spirit 



an 
ba§ 2Jol£ bet Sereitugten <Ztaattn, 

am 17. ©cptcm&ct 1796. 



® c 1 1 c ft t c 931 ttOurgcr! 

®a ber 3«^aum fur bte 5fteim>at)l ehieS 93 fir* 
gertf jur 2lu£ubuug ber fcolljtefyenbeu ©eroaft in 
ben SSereimgtcn ©taaten ntcfyt mcl)r feme unb bte 
3eit toixttid) berbeigefcmmeu ifi, bag Sure ©cban* 
fen (Td) nttt ber 2Bal)l beg SRanned befdjcifttgen, 
n>efd)er nut biefem rotdtfigeu 2lmte beffctbet roerben 
folic : fo fdjeint e$ mtr pafienb, juma( urn etiieii be* 
fftmmteren SlitSbnttf ber aSolfSftintme l)terburd) jit 
bett>irfen / Qhid) jefct Don ltiettiem feflen @ntfd)(uffe 
ju benad)rid)ttgen, bag id) eg abletyne, al$ etu aQatyl* 
canbibat fur bte nactyfie ^)rajTbentfd)aft betracbtet 
ju werben. 

3d) bitte (Sud) jugletd), meiner SBer(Td)erung 
©lauben betjumejfen, bag btefer Grntfd)fug md)t 
ol)ne gen)i(fent)afre ^ritfung alter ber ©ritnbe nub 
D?ucfjtd)ten gefagt nnirbe, weldje einen pfltd)ttreuen 
23urger an fetn SBaterfanb fnttpfen ; nub bag anf 
tnetue Slblebnung beg Slmteg, bejfen Slmtatyme id) 



TO 

THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES. 
September 17, IT96. 



Friends and Fellow Citizens, 

The period for a new election of a citizen 
to administer the Executive Government of the 
United States being not far distant, and the 
time actually arrived when your thoughts must 
be employed in designating the person who is 
to be clothed with that important trust, it ap- 
pears to me proper, especially as it may con- 
duce to a more distinct expression of the pub- 
lic voice, that I should now apprize you of the 
resolution I have formed, to decline being con- 
sidered among the number of those out of 
whom a choice is to be made. 

I beg you, at the same time, to do me the 
justice to be assured, that this resolution has 
not been taken without a strict regard to all 



10 SBa^inQtcn^ ?C6fd)tct>^2Cfc>t>tcffc. 

burd) meirt ©ttttfcfyweigen tit meiner gegenwdrtigen 
Sage anjubeuten fdjetnen modjte, roeber SSerringe* 
rung meineS @tfer$ fur Suer jufiuifttgeS 2801)1, 
nod) Slbnaljme nietner banfbaren 2Serel)rung Surer 
mtr beroiefenen ©itte irgenb emeu Sinflug augers 
ten ; bag id) melmebr Don ber ttolleu Ueberjeugung, 
biefer mem Scfyritt fei mit betbem ttereiubar, geleitet 
roerbe, 

3Me Slnnafyme be$ Slmtetf, ju roekfyem @uer 
SSertrauen mid) jwetmal berufeu fyar, unb meine 
feittyertge 93el)arruug in bemfeiben, roar fitr mict) 
cm Dpfer, roe(d)e$ td) forootjt meinem Streben, 
tneiue *pflid)t ju tfyun, ate and), Suren IBimfdjen 
nad^ufotumen, bracfyte, 3d) boffte tmmer, bag eg 
wett fritber in ntetner 9J2ad)t fteben ntoge, im Grin* 
flange mit $ytutffTd)ten, bie td) ntd)t auger Slugen 
fegen burfte, ju jeuer Si^ucfgejogenbett jiiriitfjit* 
fefyren, Don ber id) mid) (o nngem getrennt tjabc. 
petite Dort)errfd)enbe SWeigung, bie<> ju tbun, fyatte 
mid) Dor ber leisten 3Babl jur Ghttrcerfuug enter 
begfalljTgen Srfldrung Deranlagt; aber nad) reif* 
lidjer Srrcagung unferer bamaligen fcerroitfelten 
nnb gefafyrbrotyeuben ©telluug jum 2(u3Iaube nnb 
bent emftimmtgen Diatbe Don SRamtern, bie mein 
SSertrauen be^ett, ©ebor fdjenfenb, entfdjlog id) 
mid), biefen ©ebaufen aufgugeben. 

3d) freue mid), bag ber gegenwdrttge 3ufianb 
foroobl Surer autfroartigen ate einljeimtfdjen Singer 
legentyetten bie (Srfullung meineg 2Buufd)eg nicfyt 



Washington's farewell address. II 

the considerations appertaining to the relation 
which binds a dutiful citizen to his country ; 
and that, in withdrawing the tender of service 
w T hich silence in my situation might imply, I 
am influenced by no diminution of zeal for your 
future interest, no deficiency of grateful respect 
for your past kindness ; but am supported by a 
full conviction that the step is compatible with 
both. 

The acceptance of, and continuance hitherto 
in, the office to which your suffrages have twice 
called me, have been a uniform sacrifice of in- 
clination to the opinion of duty, and to a defe- 
rence for what appeared to be your desire. — 
I constantly hoped that it would have been 
much earlier in my power, consistently with 
motives which I was not at liberty to disregard, 
to return to that retirement from which I had 
been reluctantly drawn. The strength of my 
inclination to do this, previous to the last elec 
tion, had even led to the preparation of an ad- 
dress to declare it to you : but mature reflection 
on the then perplexed and critical posture oi 
our affairs with foreign nations, and the unani 



12 SBaS&instoiTS Mfd)icb$^Cbbtc|fc. 

langer mit meinen ©runbfdgen wn *pflid)t ober 
©cf)tcf(td)fett ill ICiberfprud) fefct, unb bin iiberjeugt, 
bag, n>ie and) ©iter Urtljetl itber meine fettbertgen 
jDienfte befcfyajfen fei, 3^/ bri bem gegenrodrrigen 
©tanb ber Singe in unferni ?anbe, meiuem feften 
@ntfd)hifie, in ba$ ^Jriuatlebcn guriicf$ufel)ren,(!rure 
3uftimmung ntcht aerfagen roerbet. 

£ie ©ejTnnungeu, mit rocldjen id) bad mir a\u 
bertraute fcfynnenge SItnt antra t, nwrben bci fcf>icf^ 
[id)er @efegeut)eit Don mir bargelegt. £mjTd)tlid) 
ber 21rt unb ^Beife, tvie id) biefed SBertraueu red)t* 
fertigte, nntl id) nur bemerfen, bag id) ber ©rim* 
bung unb SSerwaltung ber 9tegterung metnen rebli* 
d)cn Stfer, unb, foroett ein l)duftg bent 3^ftl)um 
audgefe£ted Urttyeit nur reid)t, meine bejteu ^trafte 
gennbmet l)abe. 2>on Slnfaug an md)t unbefannt 
mit ber 9Diangelt)aftigfeit meiuer (Sigenfdjaften, t)at 
bie (grfabrung in meinen 2lugen, melleid)t nod) met)r 
in ben Slugen 2luberer, bie ©ruube gum SWtgtrauen 
auf mid) felbft beftdrft, unb bie junebmenbe ?afl 
ber %a\)xc mabut mid) tdglid) metyr unb mefjr, bag 
bie ftitte 3uriitfge$ogenl)ett bed ^)rt»atlebend mir 
ebenfo notbtfyut, aid |le mir rool)(tbun nnrb. £aben 
bie SSerbdltuijTe meinen Sienftteiftungen einen be* 
fonberen Sffiertt) aerlieljen, fo liegt biefer, nad) mei* 
nem Dafurtyatten, in icn 3«tiunjtanben ; meinen 
£ro(l aber ftube id) in bem ©lauben, bag, todfyrenb 
SJeigung unb SBernunftgrunbe mid) befiimmen. bie 



Washington's farewell address. 13 

mous advice of persons entitled to my confi- 
dence, impelled me to abandon the idea, 

I rejoice that the state of your concerns, ex- 
ternal as well as internal, no longer renders the 
pursuit of inclination incompatible with the 
sentiment of duty or propriety ; and am per- 
suaded, whatever partiality may be retained 
for my services, that, in the present circum- 
stances of our country, 3 r ou w r ill not disapprove 
my determination to retire. 

The impressions with which I first under- 
took the arduous trust, were explained on the 
proper occasion. In the discharge of this trust, 
I will only say, that I have with good inten- 
tions contributed towards the organization and 
administration of the government, the best ex- 
ertions of which a very fallible judgment was 
capable. Not unconscious, in the outset, of the 
inferiority of my qualifications, experience in 
my own eyes, perhaps still more in the eyes of 
others, has strengthened the motives to diffi- 
dence of myself: and every day the increasing 
weight of 3'ears admonishes me more and more, 
that the shade of retirement is as necessary to 
2 



14 Bttfttafifeirt 2C6|$icb$#bbtcffc 

politifdje Sdwtbubne |u aertajfen, btc ^>fltcf)t ber 
Sater(anb£(iebe baburd) nirfjt ucrfetst wtrb. 

83ei bem $in61tcfe auf ben giugcubltcf, welcfier 
bcr ?aufbal>n meinefi ojfentftduu ?ebeu6 ctn 3td 
fefccn wirt, brangt eg mid), btc ttefc Slrterfcnmutg 
eiucr Sdjulb ber SanFbarFeit gegen mefit gcliebtetf 
SSatcrlaub fur fo vide mix crwtefen* Gbrenbcjett* 
gmtgen audjufpredjen ; nod) met)r abev fur ta$ 
SScrrrauen ju banFen, wonttt cd mid) utttarfKtgte 
itnb fitr bie glucFJtdje SSeranfajjmtg, bie e3 mir bar* 
ber, burd) £reite unb SlnSbauer in metuen Sicnft* 
leifhtngen,— wenn and) bcrcn 9in£en metnent gtfet 
nidjt gtcid) Fam, — meinc unt>erbrud)lid)e ?(nbdng* 
(td)fcit an bafjclbe jit beurfunben. SBenn bem 
Sanbc -au$ biefen mcinctt Sienften cut Scgcu exit* 
fpritngen ijt, mege ftetd jit @urem $rei(5e unb ate 
cin belefyrenbeS ScifpicI in ben 3af)rbnd)ern unferer 
©cfd)ict)tc aitfgejetdjnct feiit: bag miter Umfldnben, 
in wefefyen bte nach jeber ©cite bin aufgeregten 
Scibcnfdjaftcn feid)t irre fubreit Fonntcn, — nnter 
jnweifen tritgerifdjent 9lnfdjeute, — nnter oft ent* 
ntutbigenben @(utf3roed)feln, — in ?agen, roo W\\* 
glucfofdllc bduftg ben ©eift bitteren £abcte berfcor* 
riefen, — ©iter bebarrlidjcr Seiftaub btc roefentltcfye 
©tttfce meiner Seflrebmtgen nnb cine ©arantie fur 
bie 2lu$fitl)rmig meiner (Sntwfirfc gewefen i|t. £ief 
burd)bntngeu von biefem ©efttble, werbe id) e$ mit 
in ba3 ©rab nefymen, al$ cincn mdd)tigen %ntxicb 
ju meutem unaMafjigen §(ef)en, ba$ ber £tmmel 



Washington's farewell address. 15 

me as it will be welcome. Satisfied that if any 
circumstances have given peculiar value to my 
services, they were temporary, I have the con' 
solation to believe, that while choice and pru 
dence invite me to quit the political scene, pa- 
triotism does not forbid it. 

In looking forward to the moment whicls 
is intended to terminate the career of my pub- 
lic life, my feelings do not permit me to sus- 
pend the deep acknowledgment of that debt of 
gratitude which I owe to my beloved country, 
for the many honors it has conferred upon me; 
still more for the stedfast confidence with which 
it has supported me; and for the opportunities 
I have thence enjoyed of manifesting my in- 
violable attachment, by services faithful and 
persevering, though in usefulness unequal to 
my zeal. If benefits have resulted to our coun- 
try from these services, let it always be remem- 
bered to your praise, and as an instructive ex- 
ample in our annals, that under circumstances 
in which, the passions, agitated in every direc* 
tion, were liable to mislead — amidst appear- 
ances, sometimes dubious — vicissitudes of for- 



16 Sci^tngton'S 2C&fd)Ub$*?(&brcfTc. 

fortfat)ren moge, @nd) bie erfreulidjiten SScroeife 
fetner ©unjT: ju fcfyenfeu,— bag Sure Sintrad)t unb 
brubcrlidjc Siebe eroig fetn nioge, — bag bie freie 
(Sonftitution, ba£ ^iBevf (Surer £dube, [jeiltg gebak 
ten roerbe, — bag ifyre SScrroaftiUtg flet^ *>on bent 
©eifTe ber 5Bei3l)eit unb £ugenb burd)brungen fcin 
moge; — furj, bag burd) forgfdltige Srbaftuug unb 
toeifen ©ebraud) fciefey (gegeud ba^ Self ber 23er* 
etnicjten ©taaten, unter bent 2d)n£e ber greibeit, 
tin *)o[ffonuuene£ ©(iter geniegen nub bie l)errlid)eit 
grucfyte btefed SegenS tiro bent SSeifatle, ber ?icbe 
unb 2(nnabme alter SSiMfer empfel)len utogen, bie 
iijn nod) nid)t bejTfeeu. 

£ier foUte id) ttietfeidjt fcbltegen. Slber eiue 
tnnige £bei(nabme an ©urem ^Sobtergebeu, roclcfye 
ixnv ntit meinent i'ebeu enbigen faun, unb eiue an$ 
jener £bet(nabme cntfpringeubc gurd)t vox ©efabr, 
brdugte mid) bei biefer SSeranfajTung einige ©rnnb* 
fd£e, ba$ Srgebnig reiflid)er Hebedegung nub Diet* 
jdljriger 33eobad)tnng, unb n>eld)e mix fitr t>ie Waiter 
(5ure3 ©ttttfetf a(3 ein 2So(f v>m ber bodjtfen 3Btd)* 
tigfeit jtt fein febeinen, Surer ernften 25etrad)tnng 
«nb fleigigeu ^}rufuug fcorgulegeu itub jit empfebleiu 
£iefe tverben @«d) ntit unt fo mttjx grcumifb uor* 
gelegt wcrben, ba 3l)r in benfelben nur bte uueigen* 
mifcigen 5Baruungcu eineg fdjetbenbeit greuube^ 
erbltcfen fount, mldiev mog(id)er SLDctfe feiuen per* 
fonlicben S3en>eggruub l)aben faun, &\d) burd) fet* 
iten $Hatf) tdufdjen ju wolleiu £terju ermutljigt 



Washington's farewell address. 17 

tune often discouraging — in situations, in which 
not unfrequently, want of success has counte- 
nanced the spirit of criticism — the constancy 
of your support was the essential prop of the 
efforts, and a guarantee of the plans by which 
they were effected. Profoundly penetrated 
with this idea, I shall carry it with me to my 
grave, as a strong incitement to unceasing vows, 
that heaven may continue to you the choicest 
tokens of its beneficence — -that your union and 
brotherly affection may be perpetual — that the 
free constitution, which is the work of your 
hands, may be sacredly maintained — that its 
administration, in every department, may be 
stamped with wisdom and virtue — that, in fine, 
the happiness of the people of these States, un- 
der the auspices of libertj^, may be made com- 
plete by so careful a preservation, and so pru- 
dent a use of this blessing, as will acquire to 
them the glory of recommending it to the ap- 
plause, the affection, and the adoption, of every 
nation which is yet a stranger to it. 

Here, perhaps, I ought to stop. Bui a so- 
licitude for your welfare, w r hich cannot end but 
with my life, and the apprehension of danger 
natural to that solicitude, urge me, on an oc- 
casion like the present, to offer to your solemn 



18 »a$#ngtoir* Keftwtetfbfcreffr. 

mid) nod) befcnbcn? bte m>n (Sad) inir fritbcr bet 
eiitcr dbnltd)cn ©elegentyett betmefette nad)j7d)t6Dolle 
Slufnabnie meiner ©nmbfage, n>e(d)c me au$ me* 
jicm ©ebad)tmjfe fcfynnnben roirb. 

£ie Siebe jttr greibeit kmtrjett fo tief in Suret* 
£erjeit unb ftromt fo macfytig in Suren Jlbcnt, bay 
e$ feuter @mpfel)(ung Don mtr bebavf, Sure 2iu* 
l)dnglid)fett ait btefclbc ju beftdrfeu. 

£ie Siubeit ber Sit'gterung, n>e(cf)e Sud) ju eu 
item etnjigen Solfe aerbinbet, ift guct) nun theuer 
geroorben ; nub nut 3?ed)t, benn ffe tft ein ©runt* 
pfeiler in bem ©ebditbe Surer mabren Unabbaftgup 
feit, bie Stitfce Surer Siiibc in Smtern, §ttre$ 
griebend uad) Slugett, Surer ©tdjerljeit, (Sured 
3Bol)lfianbeg, ja, Surer grcibeit fdbft, bte gbr yo 
l)od) in Sbren balrer. Ta alvr, nne leid)t ttorauti* 
jufebeu iff, an* *>erfd)iebeuen ©rimben unb *>on 
»erfd)tebenen ©etten ber, inel DJiube nub utancfyer 
Jtiwtfgrtff n>irb angewenbet weibeu, bte Uebcrjett* 
gmtg v>on btefer s i£abrbeit in Suren ftcrjeit ju 
fdwddjen, tnbem btefetf ber >}>unfr in ber feften 33ur<j 
Suretf pelirifcfyen ?eben£ iff, grgen n>e(d)en bie 93at# 
terien Surer inneren nub auffcren gctnbe uiir ineler 
25et)arrltd)feit nub Stvaft (oft gnoar yerftecft nub 
f)tnterliftig) werbeit gertcfytet werben : fo tjl e£ tut* 
enblid) nricfytig, ba§ 3br ^c\\ niter mcpltdjcit SBertl) 
Surer Siubeit a Is eine Nation jur SJcgritn* 
bung Sure$ ©lucfeg im 2Utgemeinen unb Siujeluen 
gctyorig ftfifcetj ba$ 3^r eine l)erjlid)e, bcjtdttbige 



Washington's farewell address. 19 

contemplation, and to recommend to your fre- 
quent review, some sentiments which are the 
result of much reflection, of no inconsiderable 
observation, and which appear to me all-impor- 
tant to the permanency of your felicity as a 
people. These will be offered to you with the 
more freedom, as you can only see in them the 
disinterested warnings of a parting friend, who 
can possibly have no personal motive to bias 
his counsel Nor can ] forget, as an encourage- 
ment to it, your indulgent reception of nry sen- 
timents on a former and not dissimilar occa- 
sion. 

Interwoven as is the love of liberty with 
every ligament of your hearts, no recommen- 
dation of mine is necessary to fortify or con- 
firm the attachment. 

The unity of government, which constitutes 
you one people, is also now dear to you. It is 
justly so; for it is a main pillar in the edifice 
of your real independence — the support of your 
tranquility at home, your peace abroad ; of your 
safety, of your prosperity, of that very liberty 
which you so highly prize. But, as it is easy to 
foresee, that from different causes, and from 
different quarters, much pains will be taken, 
many artifices employed, to weaken in your 



20 2Ba§&tn9tetf$ 2C&fc&icb$s2C&fcrc|Tc. 

ititb unroanbefbare2(ubdng[id)fett an biefelbe mttcr^ 
Ijaltet, intern 3br @ud) gewobut baran ju benfen 
lint) bat>on ju fprcd^eit altf ber Sdwfcwebr (Surer 
pelitifcfyett Sicfyerljeit unb UScbffabvt; intern 3W 
iiber ibrer (Srtyaltung mit ciferfuriuiger Sleugftlirf)* 
feit tvacfyt; inbem 3br uieberfcfylagt, \va$ nur ben 
SSerbacfyt erwecfen fonnte, bag fie mogttcfyer SBrife 
feature aufgegebeu roerbeit, tutb inbem 31)* mit (Sat* 
nifhing ba$ erjle Sliiftaucfyen ftttrt jeben SSerfucfttf 
jurttefweif't, einen £i)etl unfered ?anfccd Don tem 
©anjen ju trennen, ober bie betfigen 33anbe ju 
lecfent, mid)c jefct bte t)erfd)iebeneu Ztjcilc mit tin? 
miber Derbinben. 

&ier$u fyabt 3br jebe SBcranfaffung ber Stympa* 
tl)ie nub bee? Sntercffej. Surd) ©eburt obcr awS 
cigener 35al)I SMtrger eines gemeinfamen ?anbed, 
l)at btefeS ?anb eiu 9Tect]t Sure ?iebe oiif jTd) ju 
leufen. £er 9iame ^imcrtfaucr, ber @ud) in Uiiu 
rer nattenafen (gigenfebafr jufemmt, mug ftcto Qiu 
ren ebleu 9?6tiona(iMj mebr entflammen, al$ jebe 
anbere 33euennung, wefdje ocu crtlidicit Serfcbie* 
benbeiten berritbrt. Wlit geringem Untcrfdu'ete 
babt 3fa cinerlei Religion, Sirreu, ©ebrduche nub 
polttifdie ©nuibfafce. giir cine geuteinfdjaftlidie 
gndie babt 3br mit eiuauber gefeduen unb trium* 
ptyirh 3>ie Unabbdngigfeit un'o gretbetr, tie 3br 
befiipt, ill bad 2Berf remitter SSeratfymig unb &er* 
einrer SInftrengiuig, gemeiufamer ©efabrcu, geibeit 
mb drfofge. 



Washington's farewell address. 21 

minds the conviction of this truth ; as this is 
the point in your political fortress, against 
which the batteries of internal and external 
enemies will be most constantly and actively 
(though often covertly and insiduously) direct- 
ed, it is of infinite moment that you should 
properly estimate the immense value of your 
national union to your collective and indivi- 
dual happiness; that you should cherish a cor- 
dial, habitual, and immovable attachment to it; 
accustoming yourselves to think and speak of 
it, as of the palladium of your political safety 
and prosperit3 r ; watching for its preservation 
with jealous anxiety; discountenancing what- 
ever may suggest even a suspicion that it can, 
in any event, be abandoned ; and indignantly 
frowning upon the first dawning of every at- 
tempt to alienate any portion of our country 
from the rest, or to enfeeble the sacred tie3 
which now link together the various parts. 

For this you have every inducement of 
sympathy and interest. Citizens, by birth or 
choice, of a common country, that country has 
a right to concentrate your affections. The 
name of American, which belongs to you, in 
your national capacity, must always exalt the 
just pride of patriotism, more than any appel- 



22 tBaS&inateifS X&f$teM*2C&bwffe. 

9lber biefe 23etrad)tnngen, true mad) tig <Te and) 
©iter ©cfitl)I anfpred)en, werben bod) nod) weit ttou 
benen itberwogett, voekfye fTel> nnmittelbar auf ©it* 
rcu Sortbeil bejtetyeiu £ter ftnbet jeber £l)eil wiu 
feretf l*anbe3 ben bringenbften S3cn>cggriutb jur 
Sefclptgitng nub ©rbalmng ber ganjeu Union. 

Ser s Jtorben finbet in einem nngebinberten, 
bnrd) gered)te ©efefce einer genteinfd)afrltd)en 9?e* 
gientng gefcf)it^rcit / 3Serfel)re ntit bem ©it ben, in 
ben ^rebneten be$ gcfctercit, einen grogen 3nwacf)$ 
fewer $it(fgqueQen jur Setretbiutg von £anbet nnb 
®d)ijffal)rr / nnb mxfytoUe Wlatcxialien fur feme 
fRamifactiiren. £er ©itben erblicft in bemfef* 
ten SSerfebre, nnter bent fegcntfreidieii Smfluffe be£ 
91 or ben 3, ba3 ©ebctben feme* Skferbaiteg nnb 
tie SlnSbebmmg feiitcd ftanbete. Snrd) bie banftge 
©infebr ber Seefente be£ 9iorben3 in feitten &a* 
fen finbet er feine eigene ©cemacht getyoben, nnb 
todbrenb er auf uerfd)iebenen UScgcn jnr StraftU 
gnng nnb.jnm 35ad)Stl)ume ber gefamtntcii Tiatic* 
na(^Sd)ifffal)vt beitragt, bebarf er ben ©cfyufc einer 
©eentacfyt, jtt ber e$ tbm felbft an ben itotljigeit 
SSSittelH gebridjt. 

£>er Often finbet lit gleidjem j£>attbete*>erFef)r 
ntit bent IB c (I en fd)on jei;>t cinen Dortbeitbaften 
2lbfai$ fur bie SBaareu, bie er wnx SluSfanbe ein* 
fitbrt ober felbjl fabrictrt, nnb btefer 3bfag vx>trb 
mit ber gunefymenbeii SBerbejfermig ber innerett 
Serfebr^mittel jn Rafter nnb ju Zanbe ]id) immer 



Washington's fakewell address. 23 

lation derived from local discriminations. "With 
slight shades of difference, you have the same 
religion, manners, habits, and political princi- 
ples. You have, in a common cause, fought 
and triumphed together ; the independence and 
liberty you possess are the work of joint coun- 
cils, and joint efforts, of common dangers, suf- 
ferings, and successes. 

But these considerations, however power- 
fully they address themselves to your sensi- 
bility, are greatly outweighed by those which 
apply more immediately to your interest. 
Here every portion of our country finds the 
most commanding motives for carefully guard- 
ing and preserving the union of the whole. 

The North, in an unrestrained intercourse 
with the South, protected by the equal laws of a 
common government, finds in the productions 
of the latter great additional resources of mari- 
time and commercial enterprize, and precious 
materials of manufacturing industry. The 
South, in the same intercourse, benefitting by 
the agency of the North, sees its agriculture 
grow, and its commerce expand. Turning 
partly into its own channels the seamen of the 
North, it finds its particular navigation invigo- 
rated — and while it contributes, in different 



24 SSasfjington'* Hbfd/icbMCb&rcfTc. 

mcbr bcbau Tor 53 c ft en empfangt tfoit fcem 
Often bie ju feinem 33ad)$rlntm unb 5Bcb(fhtnb 
erforberfidjc %\if\\hx ; unb wag meffeidjt &on nod) 
grogercr SSebeutinig ift, cr tterbauft ben ft d> c r e it 
SejTip bcr tbm fo unentbebr(id)en 31 bfa 15 W cgc 
fur feutc ^Jrobuctc einjig unb aHeitt bcm ©eroidjtf, 
bcm (Einflnffe unb bcr fuufrigcn geemadjt ber at^ 
[attttfct)ett Seite bcr bur* bag unaufKo^ltdjc SBanb 
gcmeinfamcr Suterejfen ate cine 3J a ft o n ge* 
[citctni Union. 3eber anberc SEifcf, nimr mU 
d)cm ber 9Bc{lcn bicfen rocfcnrltchcn Sortbeil beftgen 
Faun, fa cr nun bom feiner etgcucu, Dcrctujclten 
©rdrfe, ober &on eincr abtrunmfdjen nub minatur* 
lid)cn SScrbinbung mit eincr fremben tyfla<ht abgp 
leitef, mug nothwenbig in ftdj felbft jerfatfat. 

3Beil benu alfo jeber £bci( unferetf gaitbeg ctu 
uumittelbarcc? unb befoubcrcg 5nf*re{ft an bcr 
Union fitbfr, fo fefgt baraitf, bag atie Zbcilc jufaut* 
incngenommat, in bcr twauten 9Saffe von ®iiffe(u 
unb $raftett, cine grogere Starfe, grogere S?nlffc 
qucKen, nng(eid) grogere Stcbcrbcit Dor bcm anfie* 
ten geiubc, cine fettencre Untcrbrccbung ibrcs gfrte* 
bcuS burcl) frcmbc 3iatioucn ftnbcn, unb, toa& von 
mtfdwgbarem SBertbe ift, ba§ fte au& bcr Union 
jene grctbett von innereu Uurubcn unb &ricgett 
ablcitcn nutffen, mld)e }o bduftg ba$ ©fitcf benacb^ 
barter ganber ftoren, tie mdft bttrch cine gemeiu* 
fdjafrftdje SRegieruilg mit eiuanber Derbunben flub. 
Stjre Siferfudjt alletu nntrbe fdjon Ijiuretdjenb fern, 



Washington's farewell address. 25 

ways, to nourish and increase the general mass 
of the national navigation, it looks forward to 
the protection of a maritime strength, to which 
itself is unequally adapted. 

The East, in like intercourse with the West, 
already finds, and in the progressive improve- 
ment of interior communication, by land and 
water, will more and more find a valuable 
vent for the commodities which it brings from 
abroad, or manufactures at home. The West de- 
rives from the East supplies requisite to its 
growth and comfort; and what is, perhaps, of 
still greater consequence, it must of necessity 
owe the secw/'eenjoyment of indispensable outlets^ 
for its own productions, to the weight, influ- 
ence, and the future maritime strength of the 
Atlantic side of the union, directed by an in- 
dissoluble community of interest as one nation. 
Any other tenure by which the West can hold 
this essential advantage, whether derived from 
its own separate strength, or from an apostate 
and unnatural connexion with any foreign 
power, must be intrinsically precarious. 

While then every part of our country thus 

feels an immediate and particular interest in 

union, all the parts combined cannot fail to 

find in the united mass of means and efforts, 

3 



20 2S>GvMnptett'* 7aMchte>sr?mrcjK. 

jbfdie .ftriege ju eurjunbeu, aber ft* burdjfrnijcnte 

frembe ^erbiubuugcn, SSefauutfdnifren unb jntrt* 
gueu nnirbcn ben $afj nod) mebr aufacfien unb er> 
bittern. Sarum merben fte gleidjermapen tie 3?ctb* 
menbigfeit jener unnatur(id) groneu 9Jii(irairftaaten 
fcermeiben, roelcfye uttter einer jeben Diegierungg* 
form ber greityeit uerberbltd) ftnb nnb seiche al$ 
befonber^ feinbfelig gegen republifanifche greibett 
augefel)eu roerben mu|Jeiu 2lu3 biefem ©rnnbe 
follte Sure Union al$ bie £auptfuiee (Surer #rei* 
I)eit betracfytet roerbeu nub bie ?iebe ju leliterer 
dnd) bie gibaltung ber crfteren rccrtb nub tbeuer 
marfjen. 

£iefe 53etrad)tungen reben jit eiuem jeben nadv 
benFenben nub tugenbbafteu SRcnfdjen bie Spracfte 
ber Lleberjcugung unb envecfeu ba$ Serfangen wad) 
ber gortbauer ber Union ate ^c\\ Dornehmftcn 
SEunfd) eine3 jebeu $)atrioten. 23cftebt cin %mU 
fet baruber, ob eine gemetufdvift(td>c aliening 
ciimx fo grofjen 5Birfunggfrei3 umfajjen Pontic ? 
£ie Crrfabrung moge it)u beben* 3« eiuem felchcu 
gatte blog ber ©timme ber abftracten £fyeorie 
©et)6r ju fdienfen, mare cut 2Serbred)en. UBir 
bitrfen mit 9?ed)t boffen, bag cine getjorige @inrid)* 
tung beg ©anjen, mit 33eit)itffe »on DiegienutgS* 
geroalten fur bie betreffeuben Unterabtbeihtugen, 
ben SSerfud) mit eiuem g(ucflid)eu (Srfotge fronen 
toerbe, Die ©ad)e i(l einer unpartt)eitfd)eu unb 
gruublidjeu ^rufung roertf), 23et fo geroidjtigen 



Washington's farewell address. 27 

greater strength, greater resource, proportion- 
ably greater security, from external danger — 
a less frequent interruption of their peace by 
foreign nations — and, what is of inestimable 
value ! they must derive, from union, an ex- 
emption from those broils and wars between 
themselves, which so frequently afflict neigh- 
boring countries not tied together by the same 
government ; which their own rivalships alone 
would be sufficient to produce, but which op- 
posite foreign alliances, attachments, and in- 
trigues, would stimulate and embitter. Hence, 
likewise, they will avoid the necessity of those 
overgrown military establishments, which, un- 
der any form of government, are inauspicious 
to liberty, and which are to be regarded as 
particularly hostile to republican liberty : In 
this sense it is, that your union ought to be con- 
sidered as a main prop of your liberty, and that 
the love of the one ought to endear to you the 
preservation of the other. 

These considerations speak a persuasive lan- 
guage to every reflecting and virtuous mind, 
and exhibit the continuance of the union as a 
primary object of patriotic desire. Is there a 
doubt whether a common government can em- 
brace so large a sphere ?— - Let experience solve 



28 SBaSfjlnsteiTS 2C0fd)tcfc$s2Ctfcrcffc. 

wnb ffaren ©ntnten jiir Union, ml&e a He £beifc 
itnferetf 2anbe3 bernbren, habeit nrir, fe hinge tie 
Srfatyrnng tcrcn Unaii^fnbrbarfeir nidu tartlum 
rcirb, alle Urfad^e, ter Satcrlantsliebe tcrjenigctt 
ju wigtranen, melcbe, mo anch immer c£ fei, ibre 
2?anbe ju Ictfern tracl)ten. 

5?ei ter SBcrnu+rnng ter Hrfartcn, wefd^c meg* 
[titer UScife iinforc Union gefaluben fennten, eitt* 
ftcbt bad crfrc5$etcnfeii, tap tie geegraphifchcit 
Unrerfdv.ebe von 9J o r t e n tint 2 n b e n , ter 
atf a n tifd) en jlnfte nnb tern $Befien jut 
SMltnng von pofttifdjen ftartbeten ©runt tarbtcren 
tnodjteu, rocf?ba(b ranfefit.lmge ^olmfer Dteffetdft 
ten (Slaiibcn jn mroecfeii fudjen irerben, bafi eiit 
n>efenrlidicr Untcrfd)ieb in 3?cjug auf errltci>c 3n* 
tereffeu uitb Jlnftducn obroalte. @in geuvbuluter 
jfrutffgrtff fefdjer -"Polmfer, itm innerbalb gcnMjjcr 
Sejirfe ©nflug 511 erlangcn, iff, bag fie tie Stun* 
imuig, tie SSitnfdje unb 2lbftdnen antercr $rjtrfie 
in einem fafjeben ?ic^te barjieQctt. 3f)f f ennr (£udj 
Dor tent SJrgwobue nnt Dor tent OJiigDcrgmtgcu, 
tic an$ biefen falfdjeii SBeridpen enrfpringen, nidjt 
genng bitten; (Te broken biejeittgeti etttanber 3 it enfe 
fremten, reeldje burtfi bad S5aut bruberlidjer 3n* 
itetgnng intt einanter Derbttntcn feut foliten. £)te 
S3en>obner unfered SSeftens bat-cn in ttefer Sejte* 
bung Dor jturjem cine ttu$iid)e £cbre erbalten : 
ffe baben in tern Don ter DoOjiebtttben ©eroatt 
unterl)ante(ten mtt Don tent Senate cinfrimmig 



Washington's farewell address. 20 

it. To listen to mere speculation in such a case 
were criminal. We are authorized to hope 
that a proper organization of the whole, with 
the auxiliary agency of governments for the re- 
spective sub-divisions, will afford a happy issue 
to the experiment. It is well worth a fair and 
full experiment. With such powerful and ob- 
vious motives to union, affecting all parts of 
our country, while experience shall not have 
demonstrated its impracticability, there will al- 
ways be reason to distrust the patriotism of 
those, who, in any quarter, may endeavor to 
weaken its bands. 

In contemplating the causes which may dis- 
turb our union, it occurs, as a matter of serious 
concern, chat any ground should have been 
furnished for characterizing parties by geogra* 
phical discriminations, Northern and Southern, 
Atlantic and Western — whence designing men 
may endeavor to excite a belief that there is a 
real difference of local interest and views. One 
of the expedients of party to acquire influence 
within particular districts, is to misrepresent 
the opinions and aims of other districts. You 
cannot shield yourselves too much against the 
jealousies and heart-burnings which spring 
from these misrepresentations; they tend to 
3* 



30 SBaSfjtngten'S ?C&fd)tcb^?(fc>t>tcffc. 

geuetymtgten SSertrnge mtt gpamen, fowte in ber 
attgemeittett 3 ll f^ e ^ en heit iibcr biefed (Srgebttij? 
buret) bad ganje ©cbtet bcr 5$ereinigfen Staatcit, 
ettten eutfd)iebeneu Seroeid erblidr, wie mtbegriut> 
bet bie unter ibueu audgefprengten ©eruci)te gewe* 
fen feten, al$ ob bie ©eueral* 2>em>a(tung unb bie 
atfanttfdoen jtitftenftaaren eiue tl)ren Sttterejfett tit 
35ctveff bed *JRtfftfftppi mtfremtbltcfye tyoiitil 
fcerfolgtett ; (Tc jTnb 3^3™ geroefen Don bent ?l&* 
fd)fu(]"c jweter -Bertrdge, bed mtt ©rogbrttanmeit 
unb bed mtt ©patttett, wefefye tbttett jeben SBortbeil 
ftdjertett, ben fte ftcC> ttrSSetreff unfercr audnxirti* 
gen SBcrbdltntfle, jur Seforbermtg tbrer 'iBofylfabrt, 
mtr nntitfcheit fonnten. ?iegt ed nid)t in tbrcm 
tt>obfoer|tattbetten 3nterejfe, wegeit ber (Srbaltttttg 
biefer 5Bortbei(e ft'd) an bte Union $u balten, bie 
ffe tbnett tjerfdjaffte ? 2Cerben (Te nid)t fortau 
fo(d)en Dtatbgebcrn, wettit ed beren gibr, t>a$ Dljr 
*>erfd)ttef?eu, bie ffe Don tbreit 33rubern lodreigen 
unb mtt SUttffanbern uerbiuben mod) ten ? 

3ur $raft unb gortbauer (Surer Union tfl eine 
SRegtermtg fur bad ®an%e unentbeljrlidn j?eine 
nod) fo engen SSitnbntffe unter ben einjefnen £bei* 
Ien fonnen bie Union uoKfommeit crfegen ; ffe fenb 
«naudb(eib(id) ben SSerle^ungen unb Sriuten and* 
gefegt, mld)e atfe Sihtbmfie ju aUen ^dten cv* 
fabren Ijaben. Diefer ttnefyttgett *JBabrbett cinc\et 
beuf, Ijabt 3br (gitrett ertfen SSerfucf) baburd) fcer* 
beffert, bag 3fyt tint Soitftitttttoit annatynet, wefdje 



Washington's farewell address. 31 

render alien to each other those who ought to 
be bound together by fraternal affection. The 
inhabitants of our western country have lately 
had a useful lesson on this head: They have 
seen, in the negotiation by the Executive, and 
in the unanimous ratification, by the Senate, of 
the treaty with Spain, and in the universal sat- 
isfaction at that event throughout the United 
States, a decisive proof how unfounded were 
the suspicions propagated among them, of a 
policy in the General Government and in the 
Atlantic States unfriendly to their interests in 
regard to the Mississippi: they have been wit- 
nesses to the formation of two treaties, that 
with Great Britain, and that with Spain, which 
secure to them every thing the} 7 could desire, 
in respect to our foreign relations, towards con- 
firming their prosperity. Will it not be their 
wisdom to rely for the preservation of these 
advantages on the union, by which they were 
procured ? Will they not henceforth be deaf 
to those advisers, if such there are, who would 
sever them from their brethren, and connect 
them with aliens ? 

To the efficacy and permanency of your 
union, a government for the whole is indispen- 
sable. — No alliances, however strict, between 



32 SEaSfjingtcn'* 2T0fd>tc^^^?Cbt)rcfTc. 

pi einent tnnigen Staatentterbaute itub jur frdf* 
tigen ?eitung Surer gemeutfcf)aftfid)Ctt Slugefegen* 
beiteu bcffer alg tie erfte geeignct tit. ©tefr 9ie* 
gierung, tie grud)f (Surer eigenen, ungejnwugeneu 
lint ungeftorten 5Sal)(, angeneinmeu nad) grunt* 
licfyer Unterfucfyuug unt reiflid)er Ueberlegung, »clt* 
fommen frei in tbren ©runtfdl>en uut in tcr 2>er* 
tbetlung ibrer ©ewatten, Sicberbeit nttt Stxaft m* 
einigeut unt eine 33e ftimmnng fur ibre SBcrbcjjVrung 
in |Td> entbattenb, bat gercdue 3Jnfpriuhc auf vfuer 
SBertraucn unt Sure llnterftumtng. ?(duung tter 
ibrer Slutoritdt, ©cborfam gegen ibre ©cfefcc, £?er* 
trail en in ibre SERafjrcgcIn ftnt ^pfltctucu, roe(d)e 
turd) tie erfren ©runbfdfcc wabrer greibeit gebe* 
ten roerbett. £ie ©runtfage unfereg polmfdjen 
$cbc\\$ \\l bag 9?cd)t beg SSdfeg, feine SBcrfaffung 
ju ntadjcn nut ju tterdntern. 2lber tie Serfaffnng, 
xvehi)C einmal beftcbt, mug, big (Te turd) ten a\\$* 
brucflicben unt gefe^Iicben ffiilfen teg ganjen SSok 
feg gedntert Hnrb, 21tfcn beifig nut unDcdelMid) 
fein. £er ©etanfe felbft, tap tad SSolf tie 5)?ad)t 
unt tag die&it befifce, eine Diegierung 311 griiuten, 
fd)(te£ t tie >)>f[id)t eineg jeten @tnje(nen in jTd), ter 
eingefefeten Dtegierung ju gcbordicn. 

2IIle UBibcrfefclichfeit gegeu tie 2(ugubung ter 
©efcge, alle SScrbutbungcn uut SSerrine, toie fcbeiiu 
bar and) ibr Sbarafter fetu moge, in ter 9Ib(Tcht, 
tie regefntdgigen 3?eratbiutflcu uut ten ($efcf)aft& 
gang ter eingefefcten obrtgfcitltdjen 93el)6rteu }u 



Washington's farewell address. 33 

the parts, can be an adequate substitute; they 
must inevitably experience the infractions and 
interruptions which all alliances, in all times, 
have experienced. Sensible of this momen- 
tous truth, you have improved upon your first 
essay, by the adoption of a constitution of go- 
vernment, better calculated than your former, 
for an intimate union, and for the efficacious 
management of your common concerns. This 
government, the offspring of our own choice, 
uninfluenced and unawed, adopted upon fall 
investigation and mature deliberation, com- 
pletely free in its principles, in the distributions 
of its powers, uniting security with energy, 
and containing within itself a provision for its 
own amendment, has a just claim to your con- 
fidence and your support. Respect for its au- 
thority, compliance with its laws, acquiescence 
in its measures, are duties enjoined by the fun- 
damental maxims of true liberty. The basis 
of our political systems is the right of the peo- 
ple to make and to alter their constitutions of 
government. — But the constitution which at 
any time exists, until changed by an explicit 
and authentic act of the whole people, is sa- 
credly obligatory upon all. The very idea oi 
the power and the right of the people to estab- 



34 ®aSljin9ton f $ tfOfatcfctUtfbfctcfJc. 

Ictten, ju befjerrfdjen, jit fcercttefu obcr jit bebroljcn, 
jtnb btcfem ©runbprtucipe aerberbltcf) nub unbetf* 
t>otl in il)rer SEenbenj. gte befihberu bte 23t[buug 
Son ^arttyeien, gebcn tfynen cine fiutfUtcfye nub 
itbermdgtge ©tdrfe, fegen an bte ©telle be$ gcfeis- 
licfyen USillenS bcr Nation ben SBitfcn enter 9>ar* 
tfyet, eft eiuer fletitett aber rdufetJollen 9Jiinbcrjabl 
be3 ©anjcn — unb macfycn bte offentltcfie Seroaf* 
tung, welcfye bag gefejsltdje Organ tterminfttger unb 
Ijetlfamer, in offentlidjen ©emeinbe*23eratbungcn 
erroegener unb buret) bag gegenfeitige 3nterejje uer* 
nuttelter tylanc fetn foil, je nad) ben abroecfyfelnbeit 
©tegen bcr t>crfd)tebenen ^artbetcn, jum ©pielballe 
planlofer unb tbortgter ^artbeijwetfe. 

9Wi>gen and) gunmlen 2>erbtubungen ober 2Ser^ 
cine ber angefuljrteu 2lrt ben 2Bmijtf)en beg 93oIf^ 
entfpredjen, fo fonnen jTe bed) lcid)t, ttn SLBcd)fet 
ber 3/tittn unb 2Sert)dltntj]e, mdd)ttge IScrfjeiige 
roerben, wobitrd) tterfd)lagene, el)rfud)ttge nub dja* 
rafterlofe 9)icnfd)en in ben <&tant> gefei;t roerben, 
bte 2Solfggen>alt nmjuffttrjen unb fid) bte 3ugel ber 
SHegterung gcwaltfam anjumagen, woranf jle baiin 
felbfl bte SSerfjeuge tterntdjteu, ttcrmtttelft roclcfyer 
fte fid) jur ungered)teu £errfd)aft emporgefdjitntu* 
gen !)aben. 

3ur (£rl)a(tung (Surer 3iegieruug unb jnr gort* 
bauer Sureg gegeutt>drttgen glittfltdjcn 3nftaubeg 
i(l eg ntd)t attetn erforberftd), t>a§ 3t)r ftanbbaft 
jebe uuregelmdfige Ungefe§ltd)fett gegen bie gefeg* 



Washington's farewell address. 35 

lish government, pre-supposes the duty of 
every individual to obey the established go- 
vernment. 

All obstructions to the execution of the 
laws, all combinations and associations, under 
whatever plausible character, with the real de- 
sign to direct, control, counteract, or awe, the 
regular deliberation and action of the consti- 
tuted authorities, are destructive of this funda- 
mental principle, and of fatal tendency. They 
serve to organize faction, to give it an artificial 
and extraordinary force — to put in the place 
of the deligated will of the nation, the will of 
a party, often a small but artful and enterpriz- 
ing minority of the community ; and according 
to the alternate triumphs of different parties to 
make the public administration the mirror of 
the ill concerted and incongruous projects of 
faction, rather than the organ of consistent and 
wholesome plans, digested by common councils 
and modified by mutual interests. 

However combinations or associations of 
the above description may now and then an- 
swer popular ends, they are likely, in the 
course of time and things, to become potent en- 
gines, by which cunning, ambitious, and un- 
principled men will be enabled to subvert the 



SO 2Ba6&ington , $ 2(0fd)tct>*;?(t>&rcffe. 

lid)c ©eroalt gnrucfrocipf, fonbcrn and), bag Jfyr 
bem ©eijte ber Sienernng in 33erreff ibrer ©rnnb* 
fdgr, rote einlabenb and) bcrcn SSorwaub few inoge, 
crnftlicfjen Sffiiberftanb leiftet. 

Sine Slrt bed Slngrtffe mag barin befrchen, 
bap man in ben gonnen ber Serfaffung Scran* 
bcrnngen Dormurait, mld)c tie nacbbalrige SHSir* 
Ring bed ©anjen fcfyvadien, nub ta$ man [emit 
iwtergrabf, road mcfrt gerabejti nmgcftitrjt roer* 
ben fann. 23ei alien SBedtfeht, bio @mf) begeg* 
nen inogen, bebenfer, \>c\$ %eit nnb (Scnwhnbcit 
mtnbeftend ebenjc norbroenbig ftnb, ben roabren 
(Sbarafrer von Sfegiernngen, aid n>ie ben anberer 
menfd)lirf)er (Sinrtd)tiingen fefqnftellen ; ba$ Sr* 
fanning ber fidjerfte $Ra$fkab iff, webnreb ber praf* 
tifdje UBertl) einer beftebenten ?anbedr>erfat]nng 
crprebt werben fann; bay -Borfehnclligfcir im 4lk# 
fel, anf ben ©rnnb bleper abfrracter ^njTdjten nnb 
QReimmgcn bin, eben wegen ber enblofen SJcrfchic* 
benbeit btefer 2lnjid)tcn nnb ^icinnngen, beftan* 
bigem 3Becbfel anefefct; befonberd aber bebenfer, 
bap jnr uari)brncfltd)en SEabvnng (Snved geniein* 
fd)aftitd)en Sntereffeg, in einem fo andgebebnteu 
Sanbe n>ie bad nnfrtge, cine fo frafrige SHrgimutg, 
ttne nnr immer mit Dellfommener grcibeir nnb 
©idierhcir acvembar, nmnngangltd) notbwenbig t|L 
Xic greibeit felbft wirb in einer folchen DJegiernng 
mit geborig tterft)ei(ten nnb gecrbneren ©ewalteit 
ifyre fidjerfte Stnfce ftnben. 5lOo aber eiue 9?egie* 



Washington's farewell address. 37 

power of the people, and to usurp for them- 
selves the reigns of government — destroying, 
afterwards, the very engines which had lifted 
them to unjust dominion. 

Towards the preservation of your govern- 
ment, and the permanency of your present hap- 
py state, it is requisite, not only that you steadi- 
ly discountenance irregular oppositions to its 
acknowledged authority, but also that you re- 
sist, with care, the spirit of innovation upon its 
principles, however specious the pretexts. 

One method of assault may be, to effect, in 
the forms of the constitution, alterations which 
will impair the energy of the system, and thus 
undermine what cannot be directly overthrown. 
In all the changes to which you may be invited, 
remember, that time and habit are at least as 
necessary to fix the true character of govern- 
ments, as of other human institutions; that ex- 
perience is the surest standard by which to 
test the real tendencv of the existing constitu- 
tion of a country ; that facility in changes, on 
the credit of mere hypothesis and opinion, ex- 
poses to perpetual change, from the endless 
variety of hypothesis and opinion ; and remem- 
ber especially, that for the efficient manage- 
ment of your common interests, in a country 

4 



38 SB&aS&ingten'* XftjftUttsXbfecffe. 

rung ju fdjwad) til, ben Unternebntuugeu po(ittftcf>er 
spartbeien ju nnberftetyen, fin jcfced OJiitgfieb ber 
©efellfd)aft utnerfjalb ber ©rcnjett be* ©efe&e ju 
fyalten nub 3lttcti ben ftdjeren nnb rubigeu ©enug 
Don perfonltdjen nnt) Stgeittlutm&Kcdjtttt ju tt>al}* 
ren, ba Derbient fie famn meljr, attf ten Harnett 
enter feld)en, 

3d) babe @ud) berritt bie ©efabren pclttifdjer 
spartbeieu hit ©raate, mit befonberer D?ttcf|Td)t attf 
fcereu SBegrmtbnng turd) orrlidje SSerfduebenbciteu, 
attgcbctttct. Sffmt bft mttfj Don etttem umfaffen* 
bcren ©ejid)tgpiutfte and bte Sadie bejricbuen nnb 
dnd) attf ba$ geterltcfyfte i>er ben k>ert>rrbltcf>eti 
SStrftmgen betf >partbeigeijted iibevbaupt roarnen. 

£}iefer ^>artl)eigei}1 tfl leibcr nnjerrrcnnlid) mit 
tntferer Sfiatur aerbmibett, ba er u\ ben fravfften 
geibettfd)afteu bed ntenfd)ltd)cit £ergenS feiue 4Bur* 
jeltt bat. Qv erfcfyeutt in mfdjtebeuer ©cftaft, in 
alien SKegtermtgen, nteljr eber roctttger gebdmpff, 
itbent)ad)t ober nuterbnirft; aber tit SSolfgregienm* 
gen nntdjert er am itppigften nnb ijl and) in ber 
£l)at beren fcfyttmmfter geutb. 

£ie abwedjfelnbe 5?errfdbaft enter ^partbet iiber 
bte aubere, erbtttert buret) ken, fetnblidien ^artbeien 
fo eigentbumlid)e:t, ©eift ber diadie, ber tn *>erfd)tc* 
benen 3etten nub ijjanbern bie grojken ©renelrbaten 
begangen bat, i]t an nnb fur jTd) fd)on ein furd)tba> 
rer JjetfpotiSmuS. ©arattd enttfefyt aber julefet 
tine formltdje ttttb beftdnbige ©ewalttyerrfdjaft. £te 



Washington's farewell address. 39 

so extensive as ours, a government of as much 
vigor as is consistent with the perfect security 
of liberty, is indispensable. Liberty itself will 
find in such a government, with powers pro- 
perly distributed and adjusted, its surest guar- 
dian. — It is, indeed, little else than the name, 
where the government is too feeble to with- 
stand the enterprizes of faction, to confine each 
member of the society within the limits pre- 
scribed by the laws, and to maintain all in the 
secure and tranquil enjoyment of the rights of 
person and property. 

I have already intimated to you the danger 
of parties in the state, with particular reference 
to the founding of them on geographical dis- 
criminations. Let me now take a more com- 
prehensive view, and warn you in the most 
solemn manner against the baneful effects of a 
spirit of party generally. 

This spirit, unfortunately, is inseparable 
from our nature, having its root in the strong- 
est passions of the human mind. It exists un- 
der different shapes, in all governments — more 
or less stifled, controlled, or oppressed; but in 
those of the popular form, it is seen in its great- 
est rankness, and is truly their worst enemy. 

The alternate domination of one faction 



40 S^affjingtcn'S Xfcf$tcb6*2fbbrcffc. 

Unruben mtb ka$ g(enb, bte baraud cntfprhtgen, 
leiten wad) unb nad) bte QJtatfdpu auf ben ©eban* 
fen, in ber unbefcbrduften ©emalt cincc> Citujdnen 
©tcberbctt unb DJube ju fiutcu ; unb fritter oDcr 
fpdter u>ct§ Day Dberfyaupt irgenb finer brrrfdjeit* 
ben spartbei, gcfdjkfter efcer glucfltcfter afd feine 
SRitbcroerber, biefed SSerfangeu jn (Suufleii fcincr 
eigenen Crrbebunq auf bcit £rununern republtfani* 
(dun- greiheir ju bcmifccn. 

Dime enter jfaraftrepbe birfer 3(rt entgegenju* 
Mtcfen (n>e(d)e bemungeadjtet ntd)t ganj anc> bat 
Slugcn gefaffen roerben follte), (tub fwr em rocifeS 
SSdf tie bejtdubtgen gemetnfd)dMtcben SStrfungen 
bed »})artbeibaffe£ ®runb ge nug, ilv.i 511 entmuthtgen 
nnb nieicrjubalten. Sr btent nur baju, bte offend 
lichen 95t»ratt)ungen 511 »eroirren unb bie offeutlidie 
JBemvdtumi 511 fdnvacben. & erfftUt he Surger 
wit uugegrunbeter g'iferfudit unb faffdjer SBefHtr* 
gun.q ; entjitnbet ben £ag be$ etneu £beif£ gegen 
ben anberu unb erjeugt ge[egenrfid> SRutyeftimtngen 
unb 3lufftdube. grembeni (Sinflitfle unb fVember 
33ejTedutuq, weld)? bur* ba$ Drgan ber tyartbev 
leibeufdiaften einen leiditerctt 3w3<*"<? J"r C?egie* 
rung felbft ftuben, off net er £bur unb £bor; unb 
fo nnrb bie ^olttif nnb ber 3Bi((e etueg ?anbe$ ber 
speltrif nub bent 5BtUen eine£ anbern imtertban. 

S3 ijl bie SReinung ^erbrcttet, ta$ pelirrftfyc 
spartbeien in freien ?dnbern ewe betlfame @tegen* 
fraft gegen bte Siegtcruug feien unb baju bettragen, 



Washington's farewell address. 41 

over another, sharpened by the spirit of re- 
venge natural to party dissension, which in dif- 
ferent ages and countries has perpetrated the 
most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful des- 
potism. But this leads at length to a more for- 
mal and permanent despotism. The disorders 
and miseries which result, gradually incline the 
minds of men to seek security and repose in the 
absolute power of an individual; and sooner or 
later, the chief of some prevailing faction, more 
able or more fortunate than his competitors, 
turns this disposition to the purposes of his own 
elevation, on the ruins of public liberty. 

Withuot looking forward to an extremity 
of this kind, (which nevertheless ought not to 
be entirely out of sigh, t) the common and con- 
tinual mischiefs of the spirit of party are suf- 
ficient to make it the interest and duty of a 
wise people to discourage and restrain it. It 
serves always to distract the public councils 
and enfeeble the public administration. It agi- 
tates the community with ill founded jealousies 
and false alarms; kindles the animosity of one 
part against another; foments occasionally, riot 
and insurrection. It opens the door to foreign 
influence and corruption, which find a facili- 
tated access to the government itself through 
4* 



42 aBaS^ingtcti^ Xbj$icfe64(febrtf|e. 

ten (55cift ber greibeit \\\id) jtt erba^en. £ie3 mag 
nut gcnnjjht (2in fd) ra n f u ugen roafyr fciu nnb in 
gditbcrn Den monardufduT Dicgiermtgsfovm mag 
ber ftatriet mit 9iad)ful)t, n>o ntd)t init sKcrgnitgni, 
mtf ben ^arrbeigeift Imiblitfen. Slbcr in I'dnbem 
Don Do(?£fbnm(id)em (51)arafter, wo bit 9trgicrutt* 
gen au3 ber iBabl beg i>oIfetf bervorgchen, ijt bied 
nidu ber ©etft, bcr gendbrr nun-ben follre. Sbrer 
natnrlid)en Slntoge jufolgc ijl tort gewtjs attcjdt fo 
Diet Don jeueni ©etjtc Dorbanbcji, al$ jur ill?ob[* 
fabrt be3 ©aujen norljweiibig iff, nnb bvi ton be* 
ftanbig bte ©efatjr be$ llcberma£e4 brobr, fo feflte 
man barauf bebadjt fetn, mit £nlfe bcr offetttttcfyeit 
SReintmg tbn jn mdfngen nnb jn bejVinfrigcn. Ta 
cr cincm gener gleidu, batf iud)t gclofd)t iverben 
faun, fo betairf cd einer beftdnbigen Uilad^famfeir, 
bejfeii 5lns3biucl) jn einer glamine jn Devbtnbern, 
inborn biefe fenfr, fratr jn cniunnen, nnr jerfroren 
noitrbe* 

©letdjerroetfe i\i c$ Don SBtdjttgfeit, bap tie in 
cinem freien ?anbc berrfd)enbe £enfung£tt>eife ten 
SSeamteu ber Sermaltttng Storficfat emfiogew follre, 
fich nnr anf ben Derfaffungdmafngeii Sive\$ ibrer 
SEbattgfeit ju befcbraiifen nnb in ber Slusitbung be$ 
befonberen Bweige^ ber ■fieni>altnno| / ber ilvnen eb* 
[tegt, nd) Dor Uebergrijfen in einen anbern in Slcht 
jn nebmen. 2>te Xtnbenj, Uebrrgrijfe jn bcgeben, 
fitbrt jur SSereuiigiuig alter &frn>atftittg£gnmge in 
ber £anb cineS $ui}tgeit nnb fo, tttf$d)e3 and) inu 



Washington's farewell address. 43 

the channels of party passions. Thus the po- 
licy and the will of one country are subjected 
to the policy and will of another. 

There is on opinion, that parties in free 
countries are useful checks upon the adminis- 
tration of the government, and serve to keep 
alive the spirit of liberty. This, within certain 
limits, is probably true, and in governments of 
a monarchical cast, patriotism may look with 
indulgence, if not with favor, upon the spirit 
of party. But in those of the popular charac- 
ter, in governments purely elective, it is a spirit 
not to be encouraged. From their natural 
tendency, it is certain there will always be 
enough of that spirit for every salutary pur- 
pose; and there being constant danger of ex- 
cess, the effort ought to be, by force of public 
opinion, to mitigate and assuage it. A fire not 
to be quenched, it demands a uniform vigilance 
to prevent its bursting into a flame, lest, instead 
of warming, it should consume. 

It is important likewise, that the habits of 
thinking, in a free country, should inspire cau- 
tion in those intrusted with its administration, 
to confine themselves within their respective 
constitutional spheres ; avoiding in the exercise 
of the powers of one department, to encroach 



44 2Ba*0inc|tcn , $ 2tbftf)tcb^?(bt>rcfTc» 

mer bte 9?egteriutg$form fetn moge, jur ©runbung 
ciuer n>trfttd)cn ©ewaltfyerrfdjaft, Um litt^ Den 
ber 5Bat)rl)ett btcfcd £a§e^ $u itberjeugen, bitvfen 
tt)tr tutr ba$ mcufd)lid)e i^erj, bie barin tovtfttv* 
fcfyeube 2tebe jur ©ewaft unb Sleigiutg ju bcrctt 
2Wi£braud), etuen pritfenbett SMtcf ridjtcn. Tie 
9iotf)rc>eubigfcit eiuc^ @cgeugeft>td)t£ tit ber 3lu3* 
itbuug peltttfd)er ©eroalten, Dcrmittefjl bcren Zxciu 
tiitug unb SSertbetlung ttnter fcerfcfytebene Seamte, 
nut s i>efttmmuug etucS Seben a(3 IBddjter bcr of* 
fenrfidjcn 2Ucl)(fal)rt g*gen bte Stugrtffe 2lnbcrcr, 
i# buret) Grrfabrungcn and ber ©efdjtdne bcr alteti 
unb nettnt %eit fytnlattgltd) bargct!)an; ciuige baiunt 
ffnb in unferm etgenen Saube, inner unfern 5lugen, 
gemad)t worben* £>ie (Srtyaltmtg bicfeS ©Ictdjgc* 
YD\d)t& ifl fo uotlwenbtg, \x>ie feme (Sinfubnmg. 
t&ollte wad) bcr SReimutg be6 SJoIfs bte SBcrtbcilung 
obcr 33eftunnutug bcr aerfajfrnigSmagigcn ®c\v>aU 
ten tit trgeub einer Sejtcbiuig unrid)rig fetn, fo li$t 
0e auf bem mfaftung3ntd£tgen SCcge bttrd) ctncn 
©efefcegjufafc tterbefiert werben. Slber fetn 9Sed)fe( 
n>erbe buret) ©ewalt crjunutgen, bcuu ntag btefc 
and) etuntaf in etnem befonberen galle cine gute 
aBirfitng baben, fo tft jTe bod) tit bcr SRegcl bte 
SBaffe jur 3 e vfiorung freter Xegtermigeit. £a3 
baburd) gegebene 93etfptet mug fiet$ burd) fetttc 
fortbauernbe itblc 2Btrfungen ben tfyeitoetfen obcr 
Dovubergefyenben 2>ortbetl roett uberttuegeu, n?e[d)cr 
irgenb etumal barau£ l)erDorgel}en founts 



Washington's farewell address. 45 

upon another. The spirit of encroachment 
tends to consolidate the powers of all the de- 
partments in one, and thus to create, whatever 
the form of government, a real despotism. A 
just estimate of that love of power, and prone- 
ness to abuse it, which predominate in the hu- 
man heart, is sufficient to satisfy us of the truth 
of this position. The necessity of reciprocal 
checks in the exercise of political power, by 
dividing and distributing it into different de- 
positories, and constituting each the guardian 
of the public weal against invasions by the 
others, has been evinced by experiments an- 
cient and modern; some of them in our coun- 
try, and under our own eyes. To preserve 
them must be as necessary as to institute them. 
If, in the opinion of the people, the distribution 
or modification of the constitutional powers be 
in any particular wrong, let it be corrected by 
an amendment, in the way which the consti- 
tution designates. But let there be no change 
by usurpation ; for though this, in one instance, 
may be the instrument of good, it is the custo- 
mary weapon by which free governments are 
destroyed. The precedent must always great- 
ly overbalance in permanent evil any partial 
or transient benefit which the use can at any 
time yield. 



46 SBo$ljtn9ten , $ ?Cfrfd)tcb^2a>brcf[c. 

SKeligictt urib ©ittficbfett ftnb btc unentbebrli* 
cfyett ©titgett alter Grtnrtd)tnngen unb 3 ll ^ llbe / 
mld)e jnr 2Bobtfal)rt etned gaujen SReffed bteneu 
fotfen. $ergebend macfyt Eerjcmge 2(nfprucbe anf 
2?ater[aubd(iebe, roefdjer baran arbettet, btefe gro* 
pen s ]>fet(er ntenfd)(td)en ©turfed, btefe fcftefteit 
©rnnbfagen ber SKenfcfyen* unb 3M'trgerpfttd)ten 
unijitfturjcn. £er btoge ^Jolittfer ^t>te ber frcmnte 
©tanbtge fottte fie tterebren unb wcrtb batten, Sicin 
ttod) fo groped 33nd) faun atte tbre 23erbinbuugen 
mit bent ©titcfe bed baudftdjen unb offenrlicben ?e* 
bend erfd)5pfen. £a§t und cut fad) fragett : 5Bo til 
bte ©tdjerbett bed (Jtgentbnntd, bed gntcn ^antend, 
bed ?eben£, mnn ba$ Scnntgtfcm reftgtofer 2Ser* 
pflidmtng ten ©bfrfjnntren febtt, wckbc vox 
©erid)t atd 9D?ttteC jttr S'rgrmtbung ber SBahrbcit 
bteneu ? ?a£t nnd baber nut $torftd)t ber Sermif 
tbnng 9?Mtin geben, atd cb ©tttftdjfett obne &fe(t* 
gteu bejTeben fomte, 2Bte met and) bent gtnflnjTe 
enter feinen Gnrjtelnutg anf befenbere Stbpfe juge* 
ftanben toerben moge : fo unberftreiteu SSernuuft 
unb ©rfatjnutg ber 2{nnabnte, bap obne rctigtofe 
©runbfagc tie Sttt(id)fett etned ganjen SSelfed ge* 
betben foitne. 

2d tft etne uubeftrettbare SSabrhett, bag £ugenb 
unb @(tt(id)fett bte uetbwenbtgeu £rtebFrdfte einer 
S3elfdregternitg ftnb* Stefer Safe erftrerft feme Sht* 
toettbung in grogerem ober gertngerem 5Jiaa£e anf 
frete Dtegtcnmgen jegltcfyer Strt. 2Ber fann balder, 



Washington's farewell address. 47 

Of all the dispositions and habits which lead 
to political prosperity, religion and morality 
are indispensable supports. In vain would that 
man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should 
labor to subvert these great pillars of human 
happiness, these firmest props of the duties of 
men and citizens. The mere politician, equally 
with the pious man, ought to respect and to 
cherish them. A volume could not trace all 
their connexions with private and public feli- 
city. Let it simply be asked, where is the se- 
curity for property, for reputation, for life, if 
the sense of religious obligation desert the 
oaths which are the instruments of investigation 
in courts of justice? And let us with caution 
indulge the supposition, that morality can be 
maintained without religion. Whatever may 
be conceded to the influence of refined educa- 
tion on minds of peculiar structure, reason and 
experience both forbid us to expect that na- 
tional morality can prevail in exclusion of re- 
ligious principle. 

It is substantially true that virtue and mo- 
rality are necessary springs of popular govern- 
ment. The rule indeed extends, with more or 
less force, to every species of free government. 
Who, that is a sincere friend to it, can look 



48 Wellington's Xfc($ieb$sXbfettfft. 

atd cut ctufrtd)ttger $reunb bcrfefben, ben SSerftt* 
d)en, bte ©runblagen btefed ©ebdubed jit erfefyitt* 
tern, gtetd)gu(ttg jufcljen ? 

SSeforbert barum, aid emeu ©egenftanb fcott 
ber aujjerftcn $Btd)tigfett, Jlnitaftcii gur affgemeu 
lien aSerbreitiutg luiiMtcticr 5frnntmf|V. Ju gleufjem 
9D?aa§e wic bte (Sinrid)tung ber Dfegterung rtiten 
UBcrtb auf bte ojfnttlidje 9Kctmuig fegt, \\t cd and) 
notbwenbig, bap bte offeutltdje 9Jieimutg wabrbaft 
aufgeflart feu 

21(3 eine feljr nnchttgc Duetto ber ?0?adu nub 
£td)erbetf, baltet ben 5ffcutltct>en Srcbtt in Slum 
Sine 3lrt, tl)tt ju erfyaften, tfr, tbn fo fparfam rote 
mogltd) git between, buret) SScnneibmig allcr ©e(e* 
gent) cite n ju Sludgaben, burd) Muter balruug frteb> 
licber SSerbtubungcn, aber and) burd) bte (Snvagung, 
ba£ jettltd)e ©elbepfer git 3{uftungen, urn finer ©e* 
fabr gu begegnen, bauftg roctt gropere ©elbepfer, 
jTe ju befdmpfen, tterfyufcu ; ferncr bur* Sennet* 
bung bed Slnroacbfeg ber Scbulbeu, ntrfjt atfetu, iw 
bent 3br @ud) Dor jeber ©elegeubeit ju Sludgaben 
bitter, fcubern and) burd) frdfttge ©cmitlnuigcu, in 
grtebeuegetteu bte burd) luwernteiblufye jfrtege frit* 
I)er aeranlafkcn ©dntfbett abgutragen, nut itidjt ber 
5Kad)tt>e{t uubtttiger iBetfe bte ?aft auftunxifjen, bte 
voir bed) felbft tragen fottteu. ??*e Slutffubrung bte* 
fer ©runbfdise ftebt Sureu 9iepr&fentanten ju ; aber 
bte offeutlicbe gjfetmtttg fotttc ebenfalW btergu nut* 
n>trfciu Urn il)ucn bte Srfittfung ityrer ^)fltd)t gu 



Washington's farewell address. 49 

with indifference upon attempts to shake the 
foundation of the fabric ! 

Promote, then, as an object of primary im- 
portance, institutions for the general diffusion 
of knowledge. In proportion as the structure 
of a government gives force to public opinion, 
it is essential that public opinion should be en- 
lightened. 

As a very important source of strength and 
security, cherish public credit. One method 
of preserving it is, to use it as sparingly as 
possible; avoiding occasions of expense, by cul- 
tivating peace: but remembering also, that 
timely disbursements to prepare for danger, 
frequently prevent much greater disbursements 
to repel it : avoiding likewise the accumula- 
tion of debt, not only by shunning occasions 
of expense, but, by vigorous exertions in time 
of peace, to discharge the debts which unavoid- 
able wars may have occasioned, not ungene- 
rously throwing upon posterity the burden 
Which w r e ourselves ought to bear. The exe- 
cution of these maxims belongs to your repre- 
sentatives; but it is necessary that public opi- 
nion should co-operate. To facilitate to them 
the performance of their duty, it is essential 
that you should practically bear in mind, that 

towards the Dayment of debts there must be 
5 



50 SSasbtn^teir* UbfaiitellWttflt. 

erfeidtfern, miigt 3!)r Surf) flctS lebljaft baran er* 
tnnern, bag jur 23ejal)litng von ©rf]itlben Sutfunfre 
ttortyanbeu feiit mitffeit ; bag jum S3cjT^e Don ©n* 
fitufren £aren erforberltrf) (Tub ; bag feme £aren 
au£gefrf)rieben werben fonnen, bte ntcfyt mehr ober 
wemger Idfltg unb unangenefym jmb, unb bag bte 
geetgnete SluSroaf)! beg ©egenftanbeS ber SSefteue* 
rung an unb fitr jTrf) frf)on eine unttermetbttdje 
©ctymertgfett barbtetet (aUemaf eine WQabl unter 
©cfyttuertgfetten), — tt>elcf)eg Slttetf etnen 3eben auf 
bag @ntfd)teben|Te aufforbern foHte, ba$ SSerfat^vett 
ber SRegtermtg mtt ©erecfyttgfett unb SMHtgfctt ju 
beurtl)et(en unb in tfyre 9SJ?agregeht jur Sluftretbung 
Don gtnfthtften, roelcfye bag ©taatStnterefie ju tr* 
genb eiuer 3eit erforben mag, ftrf) ttullig ju fugen. 
Uebet £reue unb ©fauben unb ©erecfyttgfett 
gegen atfe SSoIfer; unterfyaltet grteben unb ©n* 
trarfjt mtt bittern Religion unb ©ittlicfyfett gebte* 
ten ung fo ju fyanbeln, unb fotlte ntcfyt and) bte 
n>al)re ©taatgffugfyett btefeg gebieten ? (§g tft et* 
ner freten, aufgeffdrten unb Cut ntdfjt entfernter 
3ett) mdcfyttgen Nation roitrbtg, ber 2Belt bag er* 
[jebenbe unb letter ! nur ju fettene SSetfptel etne^J 
SBolfe^ ju geben, tvelcfycg flet$ Don bem ©etfie 
ber 2Beigl)ett, ©erect) ttgfett unb ®ixte regtert rotrb. 
— 2Cer faun bejwetfeht, bag tm ?aufe ber 3^tt 
unb £>mge bte gritcfyte etneg folcfyen ©runbfafceg 
ttng retdjltd) fitr jeben ttorubergefyenben Sorbet! 
nneber entfcfjdbtgen werben, roelcfyen nur unferer 



Washington's farewell address. 51 

revenue — that to have revenue there must be 
taxes — that no taxes can be devised which are 
not more or less inconvenient and unpleasant 
— that the intrinsic embarrassment insepara- 
ble from the selection of the proper objects, 
(which is always a choice of difficulties,) ought 
to be a decisive motive for a candid construc- 
tion of the conduct of the government in mak- 
ing it, and for a spirit of acquiescence in the 
measures for obtaining revenue which the pub- 
lic exigencies may at any time dictate. 

Observe good faith and justice towards all 
nations — cultivate peace and harmony with all. 
Religion and morality enjoin this conduct; and 
can it be, that good policy does not equally 
enjoin it ? It will be worthy of a free, enlight- 
ened, and (at no distant period) a great nation, 
to give to mankind the magnanimous and too 
novel example of a people always guided by 
an exalted justice and benevolence. Who can 
doubt, that in the course of time and things, 
the fruits of such a plan would richly repay 
any temporary advantages which might be lost 
by a steady adherence to it ? Can it be, that 
Providence has not connected the permanent 
felicity of a nation with its virtues ? The ex- 
periment, at least, is recommended by every 



52 SBft^tngtotT* HOfdjtcbS^Cbbrcffe. 

ftanb^afrett 2lnbdngltd)feit nit berfelben etnmal gum 
£>pfer gebradjt l)abeu mogen ? 3ft *$ moglich, bag 
bie SSorfeljung ba$ banernbe ©liidf ctnetf 93olfe$ 
iud)t nnjertrennlid) an feiue £ugenben gefniipft 
tyabe ? 3ebe3 ©efnbf, weld)e$ bic inenfd)Iid)e 9i<te 
tur abclf, treibt un$ jum roemgftcu an, ben SSerfud) 
bamit ju macfjen. 2(d)! fcttte er (d)citcrn an ten 
gaffrni ber SOcenfrf)i)ett ? 

S3ei ber ShtSfitbriuig eineti fofd)eu ©rnnbfageS 
tft m'djttf nothmenbiger, al8: forttt>abrejtben, einge* 
nmrjeften UGibermitfen gegett genuffe Solfer nnb 
letbenfd)aff(td)e 3(nl)duglidifett an anbere, ju *>er* 
batmen nnb anftatt berfelben gerecfjfc nnb frennb* 
fdjaftlicfyc ©ejutmutgen gegcit alle 311 unterhalten. 
3B&£jeiitge SSelf, bet n>e(d)em a\\6 ©eroobnljeit ent* 
tt)eber fta0 ober SBorlicbc gegen ein anberetf uor* 
waiter, Ubt in einem gewiffen Stune int 3uftanbe 
ber (gflaucret. &$ ift ein ©flaw feuted bitteren 
£affe3 ober feiner jdrtlictyen Siebe, r unb diwS n>ie 
ba$ Jlnbere reid)t bin, eg Don fetner ^pflidir abioeiti 
big jn mad)en nnb fetn 3"tereffe ju gefdbrbem 
2£ibernn((e einc$ SSelfeg gegen ein anbere^ ntadjt 
jebe3 genetgter, 23e(eibigung nnb Sdniben |U|itftt* 
gen, nm einer £(eimgfeir nntten ©treir anjnfangen, 
itnb, menu ber S^falt einen nnbebeuteuben ?lu(ag 
jnm 3^ift barbieter, nut nnbengfamem ^tcfje bar* 
an feftju batten, 

§teraitd entfpringen f)dnfrge SWeibnngen, bart* 
ndefige, erbitterte nnb blntige $rtege. £a$ 25olf, 



Washington's farewell address. 53 

sentiment which ennobles human nature. Alas, 
is it rendered impossible by its vices ? 

In the execution of such a plan, nothing is 
more essential, than that permanent, invete- 
rate antipathies against particular nations, and 
passionate attachments for others, should be 
excluded; and that in place of them, just and 
amicable feelings towards all should be culti- 
vated. The nation which indulges towards an- 
other an habitual hatred, or an habitual fond- 
ness, is in some degree a slave. It is a slave 
to its animosity, or to its affection, either of 
which is sufficient to lead it astray from its 
duty or its interest. Antipathy in one nation, 
against another, disposes each more readily to 
offer insult and injury, to lay hold of slight 
causes of umbrage, and to be haughty and in- 
tractable, when accidental or trifling occasions 
of dispute occur. 

Hence frequent collisions — obstinate, en- 
venomed, and bloody contests. The nation 
prompted by ill-will and resentment, some- 
times impels to war the government, contrary 
to the best calculations of policy. The go- 
vernment sometimes participates in the national 
propensity, and adopts, through passion, what 
reason would reject: at other times, it makes 

tlie animosity of the nation subservient to pro- 
5* 



54 SSajfjinotcn^ X6|$itb*3Cbbreffe. 

tton s>a§ itttb 3{ad)fuct)t entflammr, trctbt jurocifcn, 
fecit beften Sercduutngcn tcv (&tdat£Htigbeit cut* 
gegcit, bie Stegieruiig jum ftriege. Tie iKeiyicruug 
fdgt fi '.i) jumcileit pou ber ^tiiMta(;©e|uuuun} biiif 
vcipeu un& tbut any ?«&cufd)aff, \x>i$ tic rubige 
UcberU\)iuti] wrnmft; ju anbcru 3cittn beuufct pe 
bic grbirrenutg tco 8o(f6 511111 Selljiu) ihvcr etgr» 
nen, &011 ©tolj, (Styrgctj unt) aubcrn unlauteru unto 
berberb(td)Cit Gkbanfen citigegebeiten , (yiimmfe. 
Oft tft ber griebe, ja juroeilcM felbfl We grctbcit 
ber SScIfer bad Opfer ba&cn geworbett. 

©fetrf)em>ctfc crjcugt cine Ictbeufdufrltdv? 2tn* 
fyaugftcbfett etne$ Se(fe» an ciu anbcrcd ntaudjer* 
let UebeL 3» Ite ^«ttfl jw bent £tfWtu<|etoc(fe fiibrt 
[eidtf jnr irrtbumlicften ?lnnabme eined gemeiiu 
fdjaftlidKn 3ntereffe$, in /fallen, wo fan imrfitdia) 
gcmetnfd)aft(id)c^ Suterefie ucrbanben ifk, itberfrdgt 
auf eiu Self bic Jyeiubfeligfeiteji be$ anberii nub 
fcerwicfelt ba$ erjtcre, obue btnrcid)cnbcn O'ruub 
unb 2lulaj?, in cinc £l)ci(uabme an ben Sfrcirt>ifcu 
ten bed lefctereu. gie fit hit fewer la$n, ban Vieb* 
ItngsBctfe Diecbfe etujuvdiuncu, n>c(d)e man einein 
anbevn SBolfe penpetgert, un& biefe£ fann leid)t bent 
SSelfe, wefdjeg fefdje 3 lt 9 e ildttbnjffe madn, einen 
boppetteii 9iad)tbci( brtngen ; etumaf, burdj mind* 
tbt'geg 3(ufgeben einer Sadie, lie man fnr jtdj bdtfe 
bebalteu fellen, unb jnm Shibrmt, buret) (Srwccf mig 
fcou vSiferfndjf, Srbtttertutg unb 9iacf)fttd)t »on get? 
ten bercr, beueu man eiu gfetdjeg 3fcd)t uerfagte. 



WASEIINGTON S FAREWELL ADDRESS. 5& 

jects of hostility, instigated by pride, ambition, 
and other sinister and pernicious motives. The 
peace often, sometimes perhaps the liberty ol 
nations, lias been the victim. 

So likewise, a passionate attachment of one 
nation for another produces a variety of evils. 
Sympathy for the favorite nation, facilitating 
the illusion of an imaginary common interest, 
in cases where no real common interest exists, 
and infusing into one the enmities of the other, 
betrays the former into a participation in the 
quarrels of the latter, without adequate induce- 
ment or justification. It leads also to conces- 
sions to the favorite nation, of privileges denied 
to others, which is apt doubly to injure the 
nation making the concession ; by unnecessari- 
ly parting with - what ought to have been re- 
tained; and by exciting jealousy, ill-will, and 
a disposition to retaliate, in the parties from 
whom equal privileges are withheld: and it 
gives to ambitious, corrupted or deluded citi- 
zens, (who devote themselves to the favorite 
nation,) facility to betray or sacrifice the in- 
terests of their country, without odium, some- 
times even with popularity; gilding, with the 
appearances of a virtuous sense of obligation, 
a commendable deference for public opinion, 
or a laudable zeal for public good, the base or 



56 gBa^ingtctf* 2(0fd)tcb^'2(t>brcffe. 

Stugerbem gibt btefe S3orliebe efyrgetgigen, ^erborbe^ 
nen ober fcerbfenbeten S5iirgern (welcfye bem ?teb* 
linggfcolfe fid) DoUtg Ijingeben) em leid)te$ 9)iittel 
an tie £anb, bie 3nterefifen il>re^ 93atertanbeg obne 
©cfyanbe, ja jnweifen felbft nod) nnter bcm 23eifalfc 
ber 5CRenge, ju tterratfyen tmb pret^jugeben unb fo 
bie fd)dnbltd)en ober tterfetyrten (Singebungen ifyreg 
(gfyrgeijeg, i()rer SSerborbenfyeit ober 2>erb(enbung 
gleidjfam nod) tnit bem £eitigenfd)ein beg ^)flid)tge* 
fitbte ober eineg loblidjen SiferS fitr bag 6fjTcnt[td)c 
9Bol)I, jn ttergolben- 

Site 3«gange gu frembem Grtnflufe auf nngdl)* 
ligen iBegen futb fofdK SSerbinbungen fitr ben tvafy 
ren, anfgefldrten nnb nnabtydngigen ^Jatrioten in 
fyotjem ©rabe beunrnl)igenb. 28ie tnele ©elegen* 
fyetten bieten fie bar, nut etnbettnifcfyen sparttjeien 
gu bul)Ien, bie ^itnfte ber SBerfutjrnng jn itben, bie 
djfentlicfye SReimtng irre jn fitfyren nnb bie offentfi* 
d)m 25eratl)ungen git leiren ober eingufd)tid)tern ! 
(Sine fo(d)e 2lnbdnglid)feit eineg fleinen ober fdjroa* 
d)en SSoIfe^ an ein grogeg nnb mdd)tige£ emiebrigt 
bag erftere gum roittenfofen 5Berfgeuge beg legteren. 

©egen bie lifttgen Umrriebe nnb Didnfe fremben 
StnfUiffeS — id) befdjwore ($\\d), meine ySJJitbitrger, 
mtr ©lauben gu fdjenfen, — follte bie (5tferfud)t 
ei\\e$ freien SSolfeg be flan big mad) fein, ba @e* 
fd)td)te nnb (Srfal)rung l)inlang(id) bartfyun, ba£ 
frember (Smflug einer ber Berber b(id)ften fteinbe 
repubtifanifdjer S^egiemngen i(t. £iefe @iferfud)t 



WASHINGTON'S FAREWELL ADDRESS. 57 

foolish compliances of ambition, corruption, or 
infatuation. 

As avenues to foreign influence in innu- 
merable ways, such attachments are particularly 
alarming to the truly enlightened and inde- 
pendent patriot. How many opportunities do 
they afford to tamper with domestic factions, 
to practise the arts of seduction, to mislead pub- 
lic opinion, to influence or awe the public 
councils ! Such an attachment of a small or 
weak, towards a great and powerful nation, 
dooms the former to be the satellite of the latter. 

Against the insidious wiles of foreign in- 
fluence, (I conjure j 7 ou to believe me, fellow 
citizens,) the jealousy of a free people ought to 
be constantly awake ; since history and experi- 
ence prove, that foreign influence is one of the 
most baneful foes of Bepublican Government. 
But that jealousy, to be useful, must be impar- 
tial ; else it becomes the instrument of the very 
influence to be avoided, instead of a defence 
against it. Excessive partiality for one foreign 
nation, and excessive dislike of another, cause 
those whom they actuate to see danger only 
on one side, and serve to veil and even second 
the arts of influence on the other. Eeal pa- 
triots, who may resist the intrigues of the fa- 
vorite, are liable to become suspected and 



58 SBa$Jjtn9ton , $ 2Cbfd)tctos2Cbbre|rc. 

mug aber gerecfyt fein, foil jTe iRugen fftftcn, fonfi 
bient ffe $ur 33eforberung then btefe^ (SinfltafieS, 
fiatt gum ©cfyuge gegen benfelben, SSefonbere SBor* 
liebe fiir ein frembeg 23off unb befonberer IBtber* 
tt>tUe gegen etn anbereg lafjett £tejeutgen, wekfye 
bason etngenommen (Tub, bte ©efabr nur Don finer 
©eite erbltcfen, unb tragen baju bet, bte jlitnfte be$ 
©nfUijfcS fcon ber anbern ©eite ju bemdnteln, ja 
felbft ju unterftu£en. SBafjre ^atrtoten, roefefye ftd) 
ben 9?anfen be£ ?teb(ingSfc)otfe6 roiberfe^en, jtnb 
ber aSerbcidjttgmtg unb bent ^artfyeibajfe au^gefegt, 
wdfyrenb bte 2Berfjettge unb bfinben 23enntnberer 
fceffelben ben 33eifall unb ba$ SSertrauen be3 SSol* 
fe£, beflfen 3ntereflfe fie serration, fur fTcf) in Sin* 
fprurf) netymetu 

£>te ^auptregel unferetf SSerfyaltenS gegen frembe 
SSoffer tfl, unfere £>anbeltffcer[)dltmj7e an^ubefynen, 
bagegen aber fo roentg polttifcfye SSerbtnbung al$ 
tnogltcf) mtt benfelben ju fyabetu £ie berett^ etnge* 
gangenen 23erbiublidf)feiten lafH img mtt gennfien* 
Rafter £rette erfitllen : babet aber lagt unS jtefyen 
Metbetu 

(Suropa Ijat cine 5D?enge urfpritngltcfyer 3nteref* 
fen, welcfye feme ober uur etne fet)r entfernte S3e$te* 
bung ju un$ baben. Sarum mug e$ in tydupge 
©treittgfeiten tterroicfelt roerben, beren Urfacfyeu un* 
fern Slngelegenfyeiten roefentlid) fremb ffnb ; mxt 
button mu$ eg unweife fur m\$ fein, roeim n>tr unS 
burd) funftlictje SBanbe in bie gerootynlicfyen SLOecfyfef* 



Washington's farewell address. 59 

odious; while its tools and dupes usurp the 
applause and confidence of the people, to sur- 
render their interests. 

The great rule of conduct for us, in regard 
to foreign nations, is, in extending our com- 
mercial relations, to have with them as little 
political connexion as possible. So far as we 
have already formed engagements, let them be 
fulfilled with perfect good faith. Here let us 
stop. 

Europe has a set of primary interests, which 
to as have none, or a very remote relation. 
Hence she must be engaged in frequent con- 
troversies, the causes of which are essentially 
foreign to our concerns. Hence, therefore, it 
must be unwise in us to implicate ourselves by 
artificial ties in the ordinary vicissitudes of her 
politics, or the ordinary combinations and col- 
lisions of her friendships or enmities. 

Our detached and distant situation invites 
and enables us to pursue a different course. If 
we remain one people, under an efficient go- 
vernment, the period is not far off when we may 
defy material injury from external annoyance ; 
when we may take such an attitude as will 



60 2Ba*f)ingteiT* 2(&fcf)tcfc*#torcflf. 

fade fciucr fvlitit ober in (cine geroobnlicfye S3unb* 
niftV, in fcinc 'JKiftyrUigfeitcn unb Stifle tyincinjie* 
I)ea (affett. 

Uitfcrc abgefonberfc tuib rtttferittr ?age roeipt 
tins barauf bin nnb rrlanbt \u\i ciucit ganj anbern 
?H?eg ctnjufdifagcn. 5Bnw wir, nnrer cincr firfif* 
Wgrn Dfegicrnng, c i n Bolt bleiben, fo ift ber 3ftfe 
puitfr ntdjt feme, n>ann imr offencn gcinbfeligfciten 
ciii6n>artti}cr ©egner £refc 311 biercn im Stanbe 
(Tub ; matin mir eine foldje £altnng annebnten 
fonncn, ba$ bie ^eutralttat, ju bcr bir nne nad) 
SScItcbcn entfd)liefkn mogen, ftreng geacfytet rocrbeit 
timO ; roatftl fricgfitbrenbe SSolfer, bei ber llmnbg* 
!id)fcif, angriflfaroeife ciuen 2Sortbet( nber \mi $tt 
gcnnnnen, ed md)t Ieid)t wagcn n>crben, uni junt 
jtriogc ju retjen, nub roann wir jtricg obcr grieben 
toablcn bitrfen, je nadjbcin inifer von ©eredjtigfett 
gclcireted ^ntercffe xuxi ail* obcr abrcirb. 

aSarum follten roir bie 2Bortbei(e ciner fo gttnftu 
gen ?age and ber £anb gebcn ? 18arnw unfere 
S3eftimuutng mit ber irgenb cined £bei(d von @Hf 
ropa perocben nnb unfern grieben lutb nnfer ©liicf 
in bie nnfeltgen iBirren enropdtfdjer £errfd)fnd)t, 
QRtBgunjt, 3nterej7en / ?annen unb Sntriguen I)in* 
cinfledjten ? 

iliifcrc wafyre ^oltttf ift ed, nnd von banerbaffen 
S3iuibiU)Ten mit irgenb eincm Xi)dU bed Slndfanbed 
fret 311 balten, infoweit ndmfid) ed nnd nod) frct^ 
(tcbr, bie$ ju tt)tm ; benn man wirb mid) wobf nidjt 



Washington's farewell address. 61 

cause the neutrality we may at any time re- 
solve upon, to be scrupulously respected ; when 
beligerent nations, under the impossibility of 
making acquisitions upon us, will not lightly 
hazard the giving us provocation ; when we 
may choose peace or war, as our interest, 
guided by justice, shall counsel. 

"Why forego the advantages of so peculiar 
a situation? Why quit our own, to stand up- 
on foreign ground? Why, by interweaving 
our destiny with that of any part of Europe, 
entangle our peace and prosperity in the toils 
of European ambition, rivalship, interest, hu- 
mor, or caprice? 

'Tis our true policy to steer clear of perma- 
nent alliances with any portion of the foreign 
world ; so far, I mean, as we are now at liberty 
to do it ; for let me not be understood as capa- 
ble of patronizing infidelity to existing engage- 
ments. I hold the maxim no less applicable 
to public than to private affairs, that honesty is 
the best policy. I repeat it, therefore, let those 
engagements be observed in their genuine 
sense. But, in my opinion, it is unnecessary, 

and would be unwise, to extend them. 
6 



62 SBaSfnnciten'S tf&ftictesKbbrcffe. 

fur fdbtg l>afteit, Untrette gegeit beftebenbe SBerbtnb* 
lidjfetten tit <5d)\\§ jit uebnten. 3d) bafte ben 
©rmtbfafc, bag JieMidtfeit ftettf bie befte qjoltttf tft, 
fitr ntd)t wemger auwenbbar anf offentlidje, rote 
anf ^)ri»ah)erl)d(tnij]e, ©arum nnebcrbole td) eg : 
baftet aitf 23eobad)tuug biefer SSertrdge tit tbrem 
roabren Smite. Sffacf) meiucr feinting abcx ift eg 
umtotfytg imb witrbe mtwctfe feut, fie wetter aitfjit* 
bel)uen. 

3iRemt ttur jtetS baft'tr Serge trageit, ituS buret) 
geeignete SBorfebruugen tit etnem Sld)tung gebieten* 
bett SSertbetbigunggffaube jit erbaften, fo wtrb eg 
Httg tit auperovbeutfidien fatten an Dorubergeben* 
ben SSttitbniffen geurifj utd)t fel)fen. 

(Smtradjt, ojfener nub freunblid)er SSerfebr mit 
aKen SSolfent, merben Den ber ^olttif, twit ber 
9Renfd)(td)fett unb von bent Sntereffe anentpfobfen. 
Slber felbft and) unfere ftanbelgpoh'tif follte ettte 
gererfjte unb unpartbetifefye £attung beobacfyten ; 
au£fd)tiefHtd)e 23egunfHguugen ober SBorjuge meber 
fttcben nod) ert!)ei(eu ; ten naturlidjen gaitf ber 
Singe ju 9?atl)e jieljen ; burd) erfaubte 9D?ittel 
#anbelg»erbmbnngen aufmipfeu unb ttenrielfadjen, 
aber feme burd) ©eroalt erjttrittgen ; ^ur Sicfyenmg 
ber $anbel8tt>ege, jur geftfe^ung unb jum <Bd)\\§e 
ber 9?ed)te unferer tfaufleute Don Setten unferer 
JRegtenutg, mit baju geneigten 5)idd)ten ftanbefg* 
Dertrdge, n>ie fie bie S3erl)dltnifie beg Slugenbh'cfg 
unb gegenfeitige SJnjTdjten m'it ffcf) briugen, abfcfylte* 



Washington's farewell address. 63 

Taking care always to keep ourselves, by 
suitable establishments, on a respectable defen- 
sive posture, we may safely trust to temporary 
alliances for extraordinary emergencies. 

Harmony, liberal intercourse with all na- 
tions, are recommended by policy, humanity, 
and interest. But even our commercial policy 
should hold an equal and impartial hand; nei- 
ther seeking nor granting exclusive favors or 
preferences ; consulting the natural course of 
things; diffusing and diversifying, b}^ gentle 
means, the streams of commerce, but forcing 
nothing ; establishing, with powers so disposed, 
in order to give trade a stable course, to define 
the rights of our merchants, and to enable the 
government to support them; conventional 
rules of intercourse, the best that present cir- 
cumstances and mutual opinion will permit; 
but temporary, and liable to be from time to 
time abandoned or varied, as experience and cir- 
cumstances shall dictate; constantly keeping in 
view, that 'tis folly in one nation to look for 
disinterested favors from another, that it must 
pay with a portion of its independence for 
whatever it may accept under that character ; 



64 SSaSfungten'b 2C6fd)tcfe$>?(bbrc|Tc. 

gen, fo $n>ar, bag btefe SScrtrdge Don 3ctt ju 3ett 
aufgegeben unb tterdnbert roerben fonueu, rcie @r* 
fanning unb 3 e ^ u ^^"be eg gebieten. Renter 
follten ttrir ffetg bebenfen, bag eg Zhoxbcit Don eu 
item 23olfe tjt, unetgennu£tge ©unftbebtngungen 
Don ctnem anbern jn erwarten ; bag eg nut etnem 
Xhciie fetner Unabbdngtgfett begafjten mug, tt>ag eg 
in btefcr @tgenfd)aft annebmen mag ; bag eg burd) 
Slnnabme fofdier, n>enn ancf) nnr fcfyeinbarer, ©unfc 
begeugungen in bte 9iotbtt>cnbtgfett geratben mag, 
ben roirfltcfyen Dollen 2Gertb bafur ju entrtcfyten unb 
nod) obenbretn ber Unbanfbarfett befcfyulbtgt ju 
tt)erben, bag eg nicfyt mebr gegeben babe. @g gibt 
rooM fetnen grogern 3trtbum, al$ roabrfyafte ©unft* 
begeugungcn etneg Solfeg gegen etn anbereg ju er* 
roarteu, ober gar baranf gu jdblen. @g tjl bteg 
etne £dufd)itng, Don n>e(d)er bte ©rfabrung betlen 
mug unb mld)e etn gerecfyter ©tof j Derroerfen follte, 
3nbem id) &ud), geltebte ?anbg(eute, btefe Katt)* 
fd)(dge eineg alten unb [tebeDotfen greunbeg Dorfege, 
barf id) faum fyoffeu, bag jTe ben ttefen unb bleiben* 
ben (Sinbrucf fyerDorbrtngen roerben, xoie eg mem 
SBunfd) rodre; bag ffe ben gewobnltdjen Strom 
ber ?etbenfd)aften bemmen ober unfer SSotf von ber 
SBerfofgung beg Saufg abljalten roerben, ber btgber 
bte ©efcfytcfe alter SSoIFer begetdjnet bat. 2ifietn, 
roenn id) mir fdjmeicfyefa barf, bag <Te aud) nut 
tbetfroetfe etroag 9iugen, gelegentltd) etx?a$ ©it teg 
(iiften, bag fee bann unb roann baju bienen mogen, 



Washington's farewell address. 65 

that by such acceptance, it may place itself in 
the condition of having given equivalents for 
nominal favors, and yet of being reproached 
with ingratitude for not giving more. There 
can be no greater error than to expect or cal- 
culate upon real favors from nation to nation. 
'Tis an illusion which experience must cure, 
which a j ast pride ought to discard. 

In offering to you, my countrymen, these 
counsels of an old and affectionate friend, I dare 
not hope they will make the strong and lasting 
impression I could wish; that they will con- 
trol the usual current of the passions, or pre- 
vent our nation from running the-course which 
has hitherto marked the destiny of nations: 
But if I may even flatter myself that they 
may be productive of some partial benefit, 
some occasional good; that they may now and 
then recur to moderate the fury of party spirit, 
to warn against the mischiefs of foreign in- 
trigues, to guard against the impostures of pre- 
tended patriotism; this hope will be a full re- 
compense for the solicitude for your welfare, 
by which they have been dictated. 

How far, in the discharge of my official du- 
6* 



66 aBa^inston'* 2Cfcfd)tcfc>$^t>fctc|Te. 

bte 2Butb beg 9)artt)etgeifteg ju mdgigen, twr bent 
Uubcife frember Umtriebe ju roarnen, gegen belt 
93etrug angeblicfyer Saterfanbgftebc jit ftyitgen — 
bann roirb biefe meine £cjfuung cut roller @rfa£ 
feiu fur meine Serge urn @uer aBob[ergel)en,ft>e(d)e 
mid) ju biefem diathe beroog. 

3Bie roeit id), in ber SrfuHung meiuer 2fmtg* 
pflid)tcn, uon ben l)ier mifgefteUren @runbfd&en 
geleitet worben fet,muffen bie offcntltdjen Urfunben 
unb anbere flare 3eugmjfe *w meincm Serbalten 
Surf) nub ber ilSeft bartljun. 3» mir felbit trage 
td) bag fefte 23enn!§rfdn, bag id) jam roenigfien ftetg 
gldubte, von tbneu gctcitet worbeu ju fetu. 

93qugltd) be^ nod) fertrcdbrenbcn j?riegg in 
(Surepa Derbrettet fid) metn offentlidjer Slufruf tfom 
22. 2(pril 1793 binfdngltd) uber meine bedfaUfigen 
©runbfdfte. Seftdtigt burd) Sure 3uftiminuug unb 
burd) bie (Surer 9?eprdfentanten in beifren £dufern 
beg SongreffeS, bat ber ©eift biefer 2ftagrege[ mid) 
jletg gelettet unb fetu SSerfud) roirb mid) baDon ab* 
fd)recfen ober fonfl abjufenfen fcermogen. 

Tiad) reiflid)er Ueber(eguug unb mtt ftulfe beg 
beaten SRattyeS, ben id) erbalten fonirte, gewamt 
id) bie Ueberjeugung, bag unfer ?anb bet fcen ob* 
nxtltenben Umftdnbeu ein $ied)t babe, nnt bag feiit 
Sntereffe itjm bie ^)flid)t auferlege, eine neutrafe 
©teduug eiujtinebmen. (Sinmal eingenommen, be* 
fd)Iof? id), biefe ©telhtng, fo mit bieg von mir 
abbiug, mit 9Rdjngut:g, 83ebarrltd)feit unb gefh'g* 
fett jit be^aupten. 



Washington's farewell address. 67 

ties, I have been guided by the principles 
which have been delineated, the public records 
and other evidences of my conduct must wit- 
ness to you and to the world. To myself, th€ 
assurance of my conscience is, that I have at 
least believed myself to be guided by them. 

In relation to the still subsisting war in Eu 
rope, my proclamation of the 22d of April, 
1793, is the index to my plan. Sanctioned by 
your approving voice, and by that of your Ke- 
presentatives in both Houses of Congress, the 
spirit of that measure has continually governed 
me, uninfluenced by any attempts to deter or 
divert me from it. 

After deliberate examination, with the aid 
of the best lights I could obtain, I was well 
satisfied that our country, under all the circum- 
stances of the case, had a right to take, and 
was bound in duty and interest to take, a neu- 
tral position. Having taken it, I determined, 
as far as should depend upon me, to maintain 
it with moderation, perseverance, and firmness. 

The considerations which respect the right 
to hold this conduct, it is not necessary on this 
occasion to detail. I will only observe, that 



68 SBtt^kifltett*< 2C&fcfactes?Cbbrc|Te. 

£>te ©ritnbe bejttgtid) be3 9?ed)teg, btefeg SSer* 
fabren etnjtihaften, i)~t nnnbtbig bet btefer ©elegen* 
t)tit ndfyer jtt erortern. 3d) will nut bemcrfeu, tap, 
fo mit jit meiner jtenntntp gefommen, jene3 $?ed)f, 
ftttftatt von enter ber friegfitfyrenben 9SJJacf)te geleitg* 
net ju roerben, ait^brntfltd) &on alien jngeftanben 
nntrbe. 

£ie *Pflid)t, eine neutrafe SStettung ju fccobacf)* 
ten, fann eiuie roeitereS an£ ber 2Serbtnblid)feit ab> 
geleitet merben, welcfye ©ered)tigfeit nub SRenfdp 
Itd)fett jebem SBolfe auferfegen, in gdlten, n>o ei 
nad) etgcnem Selteben banbelu fann, friebltd)e nnb 
fremtfcfcfjafrltdie Sejiebttngen mit antern SSolferu 
wn v ocrbritd)(id) anfredn jit erbalten. 

3n tote feme ba3 Sntereffe Sud) jnr 33eobad)* 
tang biefe£ SBerfabreitg anjforberf, fann fnglid) 
(Surer eigenen Ueberfegitng nnb @rfabrnng anbeim* 
gejMt tverben. gitr mid) mar e£ ein ttorroiegenber 
JBeweggnutb : babin $n ftreben, 3?it far nnfer ?anb 
jn genrimien, feine nod) jnngen @tnrid)tnngen ju 
befejttgen nnb anSjnbilben nnb ebtte Unterbredntng 
jn jenem ®rabe von 9J?ad)t nnb geftigfeit ttoranjn* 
fcfyretten, rcefdjer notl)rc>enbig tft, ibm — roenn ber 
SUtdbrncf erfaubt i|t — tic ®e\v>alt fiber feine eige* 
nen @efrf)tcfe jn gebem 

Dbroebl id), bet bent SKncfbltcfe attf bie SSorfatte 
meiner Serroaltung, mtr feitietf »orfag[ui>ctt gfefcfenJ 
betmtpt bin : fo mad)t e$ mix bte (rrfenntnip meiner 
Unt>ollfommenl)eiten bod) nnibrfdjeinudv bap ;d) 



Washington's farewell address. 69 

according to my understanding of the matte?, 
that right, so far from being denied by any of 
the belligerent powers, has been virtually ad- 
mitted by all. 

The duty of holding a neutral conduct may 
be inferred, without any thing more, from the 
obligation which justice and humanity impose 
on every nation, in which it is free to act, to 
maintain inviolate the relations of peace and 
amity towards other nations. 

The inducements of interest for observing 
that conduct will be best referred to your own 
reflections and experience. "With me, a pre- 
dominent motive has been, to endeavor to gain 
time to our country to settle and mature its 
yet recent institutions, and to progress without 
interruption to that degree of strength and 
consistency which is necessary to give it, hu- 
manly speaking, the command of its own for- 
tunes. 

Though m reviewing the incidents of my 
administration, I am unconscious of intentional 
error., I am nevertheless too sensible of my de- 
fects not to think it probable that I may have 
committed many errors. Whatever they may 



70 SSaStnngten'S 2Cbf#tcb$*?Cbbrcffc. 

maudje SSerfeljen begauqen [)aben moge. SBefcfter 
Sfrt btefe auct) feien, fo flebe id) in nteinem beigett 
©ebete jit bent Slttmddjttgen, bag @r bit Uebet ab* 
wenbeu ober mttbern moge, bte barauS cntfpringeu 
fonnen. Unb fo wilt td) and) bte £offmtng mit mtr 
uetymen, bag mem SSaterfanb me aufboren werbe, 
fie mit yiad))id)t jit betracfyten, unb bag nad) fitnf 
unb Dierjtg 3abren meiueg ?cbenS, wefdje id) mit 
aufrid)tigem Sifer feinent Stettfle nnbmete, bte gel)* 
lev metncg Un&ermogeng ber SBergefienljett mogett 
itbergebeu wcrben, ferote td) felbfl baft jit bem Drte 
ber [efcten Mube rcerbe einberufen werben. 

3m SSertrauen auf bie gittige 9tacf)iTd)t meineg 
SBaterlanbeS unb befeelt von jener beqltdjen ?tebe 
$u bemfelbeu, weldjc einem 9D?amtc fo naturlid) tft, 
ber eg afg fetu eigeneg ©eburtelanb unb ate bag 
feiuer SBorfabren, Don mebrercn ©eneratiouen her, 
erbtitft : febe id) mit froben Grroartungen jener 
grille be^ qjrfoatlebeng entgegen, worm id) boffe, 
ba^ ungetritbte, fitge ®IM git genie gen, mitten im* 
ter meiuen gjiitbitrgern an ben gefegneten 3Btrfmt* 
gen gttter ©efege uuter einer freien Dlegterung Sfa* 
tbeit jn nefymeu, — jtetg ber Stebfinggnnutfd) met* 
neg jjergcng unb ber feltge gobn, n>te id) gu»erjTd)t* 
lid) boffe, unferer tt>ed)feffeitigen ©orgen, Slrbeiten 
unb ©cfaljren. 

©eorg 25$agJ)tngton» 

2>crctntgtc Staatcn, 

ben 17. September 1796. 



Washington's farewell address. 71 

be, I fervently beseech, the Almighty to avert 
or mitigate the evils to which they may tend. 
I shall also carry with me the hope that my 
country will never cease to view them with in- 
dulgence ; and that, after forty -five years of my 
life, dedicated to its service, with an upright 
zeal, the faults of incompetent abilities will be 
consigned to oblivion, as myself must soon be 
to the mansions of rest. 

Belying on its kindness in this as in other 
things, and actuated by that fervent love to- 
wards it, which is so natural to a man who 
views in it the native soil of himself and his 
progenitors for several generations, I anticipate 
with pleasing expectation, that retreat, in which 
I promise myself to realize, without alloy, the 
sweet enjoyment of partaking, in the midst of 
my fellow citizens, tlie benign influence of 
good laws under a free government — the ever 
favorite object of my heart, and the happy re- 
ward, as I trust, of our mutual cares., labors 
and dangers. G. WASHINGTON. 

United States, l~th September, 1796. 






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